In 2013 Apple filed three patents that showed the company is working on ways let you loan or re-sell the digital content you purchase on iTunes. That’s a great idea; if it ever comes to fruition, I’ll be more inclined to buy even more content at the iTunes Store.
According to the patents, Apple is eyeing techniques for managing access to a digital content item (such as an ebook, music, movie, software application) to be transferred from one user to another. The transferor is prevented from accessing the digital content item after the transfer occurs.
Currently when you “buy” digital content such as books, music and movies from companies such as Apple and Amazon, you’re not truly buying them but renting them. Apple and Amazon grant “nontransferable” rights to use content. In other words, when you buy digital content, you own a license to use the digital files, but you don’t truly own them. I’ve bought lots of music and movies on iTunes. However, unless the law changes I can’t give bequeath them to my children.
If this policy doesn’t change, and more people begin to realize this, folks may reconsider making online, digital purchases rather than buying physical media. Thecurrent major advantage to buying printed books, CDs, DVDs, etc., is that we can give them to, or share them with, anyone we wish.
Apparently, Apple releases this. Let’s hope their digital lending/re-selling plans are a reality sooner than later.
