On January 29, Amazon Technologies Inc. received a patent pertaining to the "secondary market for digital objects." According to the patent abstract, the technology will enable Amazon customers to transfer -- and presumably sell -- e-books, MP3s, and other digital files to other customers. And, Apple too has filed for patents on the transfer of owned digital items.
The whole issue of used digital goods is a big one, with far-reaching implications for media in general, but music and publishing in particular.
While several companies have entered the fray…
Ayelet Waldman
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