Quote:
Originally Posted by Elfwreck
I don't care what the seller's "intent" is, when I buy something. It doesn't come with a usage contract that says "you must read books the way we want them to be read." I don't buy books with an understanding that I'll be the only person reading them.
If I buy a car, it's not the seller's choice whether I drive it on city streets, for long freeway travel, or on closed race-courses that will burn out the clutch in a couple of months. If it's properly insured, I can share it with a pool of friends; we can arrange it so whoever needs a car can pick it up at a pre-established location and drive off with it. It doesn't matter what Ford or Toyota thinks it's supposed to be used for.
If I buy a set of crockery, the store doesn't get to tell me whether I shall cook with them in the oven, or the microwave, or smash them into pieces for an art project.
"Intent" is for personal relationships. For gifts among friends; sometimes, for sales among friends. If I buy my friend's pottery, she'll rightfully be very upset if I smash it for art projects.
I don't have a personal friendship with Barnes & Noble, and they have no legal or moral right to tell me how to use their products. I'm fairly sure they don't have a legal right to restrict loaning to one time, or a certain number of days. They don't have a legal obligation to provide more than that--but they don't have the right to restrict further loaning, if someone figures out how to do it.
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Legally, the author, publisher, or seller can each restrict what you do with it. It is in the license when you purchase the ebook.
I know that some on this site may not like that, but it is the law.