Tag: exhaustion of rights

Do you own your kindle ebooks?

I just read this quick Wired post on whether you own your kindle ebooks.  This is what they said:

“If convenient euphemisms could somehow be outlawed, the “Buy now with 1-Click” button on Kindle pages would have to be relabeled “License now with 1-Click.” Amazon’s terms of service clearly state that, unlike those bulky slabs of arboreal matter that imparted knowledge to generations past, Kindle books can never be owned in the traditional sense. Instead, your $12.99 merely earns you the right to view the work on your Kindle. This arrangement gives Amazon the authority to snatch back that content if the company thinks you’ve been naughty—say, by copying and distributing ebooks or by engaging in fraud with your account. Continue reading Do you own your kindle ebooks?

Can the next generation consoles block used games?

The next generation Microsoft and Sony games consoles – Sony PlayStation 4 and the newly announced Xbox One – are coming pretty soon now.  There’s been much speculation about to what extent they might attempt to block used games sales, or even sharing of games.  For example, have a look at this BBC article.  Can they actually do that legally? Continue reading Can the next generation consoles block used games?