Legislators Express Doubt About a First Sale Doctrine for Digital Goods

Gigaom's Jeff John Roberts reports on a Congressional hearing held last week on whether the first sale doctrine should apply to digital goods. Buyers of e-books or e-music can't resell those digital goods or leave them behind when they die because they are licensing the goods from companies like Amazon and Apple, Roberts writes. Congressional members were skeptical about creating a digital-based first sale doctrine, but expressed concern that licenses for digital goods were too lopsided against consumers. "The most popular solution to the problem of diminished property rights appears to be better licenses," Roberts concludes.