Perzanowski and Schultz start off by providing a fine summary and analysis of
both how clouds and content streaming work and the implications in terms of
ownership and rights. . . . As the book shows quite beautifully . . . there is
a perverse incentive for many of those involved to keep the whole story as
obscure and unfathomable as possible. This analysis - detailed and impressive
- shows how the combination of law and technology works against the users. -
Times Higher Education
When you buy a physical book, you own it outright—you can read it, mark it, lend it, or sell it. However, the same cannot be said for ebooks and other digital goods. Retailers and copyright holders maintain that these purchases are merely licenses, meaning they can remove content from your device without notice, as seen when Amazon deleted Orwell's 1984 from users' Kindles. In this exploration of ownership in the digital age, the authors examine how our understanding of ownership has evolved and advocate for the importance of personal property. While digital goods like ebooks and streaming services provide convenience, they also come with trade-offs regarding user constraints, permanence, and privacy. Most consumers overlook the implications of end-user agreements, which often limit their rights. The authors argue for incorporating aspects of private property into the digital marketplace, highlighting the legal and economic advantages. More importantly, this shift would enhance our sense of autonomy and self-direction. If we truly own our digital purchases, we can use them as we wish, ensuring that technology serves to empower rather than restrict our freedoms.
Companies design their products, business models, and marketing strategies to
stop us from repairing the devices we own. In doing so, they extract untold
billions of dollars from consumers, stifle competition, and inflict massive
damage on the planet. This book explains how we can harness the power of law
to regain control over technology.
