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Surprises

by Mike Masnick

Wed, Jul 14th 2004 1:05pm





eBay Testing Sales Of Downloadable Songs

from the this-ought-to-be-interesting... dept

Remember last year when someone tried to sell their legally purchased iTunes song on eBay? Based on the right of first sale, it should be perfectly legal, but there were plenty of thorny questions brought up. In fact, they were so thorny that eBay killed the auction. Now, via Engadget, we learn that eBay may be reconsidering. They're testing a program where people will be able to sell their digital downloads under very specific circumstances. Also, while there may be a right of first sale, there isn't a right of second sale: eBay won't let anyone resell a digital download they bought -- so buyer beware. Update: Since there's a bit of confusion, my use of "second sale" here is a very bad joke, that clearly no one is getting. Please stop the emails and comments. I know what the right of first sale means. I will also stop trying to make jokes.

4 Comments | Leave a Comment..


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  1.  

    "first sale" doctrine

    identicon
    Michael Leuchtenburg, Jul 14th, 2004 @ 4:21pm

    The whole point behind "first sale" is that the creator loses control after the first sale. It is not, as your post seems to implies, that a consumer can sell something they bought, but that this new owner cannot sell it.

    You can read more about it on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_sale

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  2.  

    Re:

    icon
    Mike (profile), Jul 14th, 2004 @ 4:36pm

    Er.. my use of "second sale" was a joke... but, obviously, not a very good one.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  3.  

    Re: Re:

    identicon
    Rajio, Jul 14th, 2004 @ 8:49pm

    Well what if I download 10 random tracks off of itunes, then i compile a special mix tape. then i sell it. sure i wasnt involved in creatively making the songs but i creatively compiled them. hrmm....

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]

  4.  

    Re: Re:

    icon
    Mike (profile), Jul 14th, 2004 @ 11:00pm

    Uh, the point of being able to resell it is that you either have the rights to the tune yourself, or you are giving up every copy you made.

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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