Rent-Only Copyright Culture Makes Us All Worse Off
12 hours ago
- #digital media
- #consumer rights
- #copyright
- Participation in Copyright Week to discuss and support principles guiding copyright policy.
- Digital media access limits ownership, leading to rental models with restrictive terms.
- US copyright law struggles with digital copying and resale rights.
- 50th anniversary of the 1976 Copyright Act prompts calls for reform.
- First sale doctrine (Section 109) is eroding, impacting consumer rights.
- First sale allows resale and lending but doesn't cover digital reproduction.
- Digital media restricts second-hand markets, swaps, and libraries.
- Subscription services offer convenience but lack permanence and ownership.
- California's AB 2426 requires disclosure of revocable licenses for digital purchases.
- Federal efforts to establish digital ownership rules face resistance.
- Courts may need congressional intervention to correct misinterpretations of copyright law.
- Reforming Section 109 could restore consumer agency and spur innovation.