Canadian lawyers question digital data rights after owners death

AnemicOak · 08-22-2013, 11:54 PM

Lawyers raise questions about digital data rights after the owner’s death

Quote:

Thinking of bequeathing your coveted music collection and extensive home library to a loved one after you’re gone?

If it’s on your iPod and Kobo as opposed to the Ikea shelving unit in the den, think again.

What happens to a person’s digital data after they’ve died is a question lawyers started to wrestle with Tuesday during the final day of the Canadian Bar Association’s (CBA) annual conference in Saskatoon.

http://www.canada.com/Lawyers+raise+...468/story.html

Fluribus · 08-23-2013, 10:54 PM

The article also mentions the issue of passing on accounts and passwords. PasswordBox (which I haven't tried) has a mechanism for assigning an heir for your passwords. The designated person sends PasswordBox proof of your death and they send the password.

Katsunami · 08-24-2013, 11:04 PM

Another good reason to de-DRM your stuff and keep a local copy.

All assuming an heir actually would *want* your music or books. If there's one thing I certainly don't care for, then it's my father's music. That stuff actually makes me want to kill kittens (and my dad too) if I hear it.

cromag · 08-25-2013, 02:54 AM

My wife hates my taste in music and literature, so this is only a theoretical problem for her.

I wonder, not being a lawyer, what the ramifications of living in a community property state (where property accumulated during the marriage is jointly owned) would be on this issue.

frahse · 08-25-2013, 07:12 AM

It seems strange that when we strive to get rid of the mold and mildew collectors on those overflowing book cases and solve our space problems, as well as lower the weight stress on our floor joists, we then encounter "legal" problems.

Doesn't seem fair.

crossi · 08-25-2013, 08:06 AM

Set up a family corporation and have that corporation get an Amazon account. A corporation is a "person" according to the supreme court and lives forever or at least until unincorporated. Or just by-pass the issue and de-DRM your books so the companies can't steal back what you paid for.

Barcey · 08-25-2013, 03:29 PM

I'm not concerned about what happens to my music or ebooks when I die but I agree with this.

Quote:

“Companies write agreements in ways that give people very, very few rights with respect to their digital asset, so I think what we need is legislation that simply sets out the rules,” Surtees said

Legislation has been slow in coming but it is necessary.

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08-23-2013, 10:54 PM	#2
Fluribus Guru Posts: 891 Karma: 8893661 Join Date: Feb 2012 Device: Kindle	The article also mentions the issue of passing on accounts and passwords. PasswordBox (which I haven't tried) has a mechanism for assigning an heir for your passwords. The designated person sends PasswordBox proof of your death and they send the password.

08-24-2013, 11:04 PM	#3
Katsunami Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,111 Karma: 34000001 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: KPW1, KA1	Another good reason to de-DRM your stuff and keep a local copy. All assuming an heir actually would want your music or books. If there's one thing I certainly don't care for, then it's my father's music. That stuff actually makes me want to kill kittens (and my dad too) if I hear it.

08-25-2013, 02:54 AM	#4
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,285 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	My wife hates my taste in music and literature, so this is only a theoretical problem for her. I wonder, not being a lawyer, what the ramifications of living in a community property state (where property accumulated during the marriage is jointly owned) would be on this issue.

08-25-2013, 07:12 AM	#5
frahse occasional author Posts: 2,315 Karma: 2064403292 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Wandering God's glorious hills, valleys and plains. Device: A Franklin BI (before Internet) was the first. I still have it.	It seems strange that when we strive to get rid of the mold and mildew collectors on those overflowing book cases and solve our space problems, as well as lower the weight stress on our floor joists, we then encounter "legal" problems. Doesn't seem fair.

08-25-2013, 08:06 AM	#6
crossi Guru Posts: 997 Karma: 12000001 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Seattle Wahington U.S. Device: kindle	Set up a family corporation and have that corporation get an Amazon account. A corporation is a "person" according to the supreme court and lives forever or at least until unincorporated. Or just by-pass the issue and de-DRM your books so the companies can't steal back what you paid for.

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