Photo by CrimsonDiabolics, via DeviantArt
Moises Fuertes/Contributing Writer
I have this book in my hands, “Cloud Atlas.” It’s a wonderful book, and one I encourage any of my friends to read. Isn’t it a wonderful thing that I can simply lend my book to any one of them without having to jump any hoops?
One would think I should be able to do the same with, say, any of my purchased songs from iTunes. The reality is, of course, much more complicated than that.
In the digital age, property rights are complicated to the point where lending a friend a digital copy of anything, whether that be a song, video game, or a DVD is, quite frankly, a chore or simply impossible. What we have seen through iTunes, the video game industry, and even Hollywood, is the usage of activation codes which directly link a piece of bought data to one single person, often locking it there even after death.
Of bigger concern, however, is what we are paying for.
When I purchased “Cloud Atlas,” I assured myself ownership of this physical book. I can give it away, sell it, or destroy it. Essentially, I can do with it as I please, in terms of the physicality of it. But this is not the case with digital goods; the same goods that companies are constantly trying to have us purchase.
It doesn’t matter what digital goods any given person purchases. The end result is the same: all we have with a digital purchase is a license to access that content, not to redistribute it, under any circumstance.
So when I die, whenever that ends up happening, I can’t give away my legally purchased digital content to anyone. Not even my kids.
I don’t think that’s fair.
First of all, I’m positive that these digital restrictions lead people to download music, games, and movies illegally. Why would a person purchase any digital content if all they are getting is legal permission to use it, but not the right to redistribute it?
Similarly, the fact I can’t even lend anything I’ve bought digitally without sharing my entire account with someone is ridiculous.
Why can’t we just lend our bits? I’m sure there are ways any software can lock certain content if, for example, it is lent to someone.
There was some recent blow-back with the announcement of all the restrictions the Xbox One would impose on the users, such as having to connect online once every 24 hours to even be allowed to play any of the games purchased. Since then, Microsoft has decided to completely change their stance on the issue due to the enormous backlash from the gaming community. But, they still haven’t changed their stance on games purchased digitally, which to be fair every current and next generation system has.
The issue thus remains across all forms of entertainment. Any digital goods purchased are simply a license to use, and not true ownership, which I consider an insult to any consumer.
opinion@fiusm.com
Sources:
1. “Who Owns Your iTunes Library When You Die?” via Outside the Beltway
2. “Microsoft backtracks on Xbox One sharing policies,” via CNN Tech
About Post Author
