ReDigi Launches Used Digital Music Marketplace. Can It Be Legal? [VIDEO]
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(UPDATED – No launch as of 6PM ET Thursday) When we wrote about ReDigi's plan to create a marketplace for used digital downloads, it caused quite a stir. Could selling used downloads be legal? "A legal music download is generally issued as personal license to use," wrote attorney Rob Falk, "and I believe that by its terms, is non-transferable." Not so fast, countered the company who said they've created proprietary tech that makes resale possible and legal. With ReDigi's launch today, and the subsequent outcry that's certain to come from record labels, we'll get a chance to find out who is right.
ReDigi’s argument for legality lies in technology, the ReDigi Music Manager client (video demo below), that enables a music file to transfer from one user to another without allowing multiple copies to exist at the same time.
“ReDigi’s technology signifies an important transition in the digital space, beyond the scope of what anyone thought was possible,” CEO John Ossenmacher said in a statement. “By allowing consumers to sell their used digital music, we are giving digital goods a resale value for the first time ever and opening a new realm of what is possible in the digital age.”
What do you think? Is ReDigi legal?
Um, if I had to make a split second judgement about this, I’d say this is going down in flames.
I am very skeptical of music services that pop up like this but I have to say it seems like they’ve thought of everything and have covered their bases accordingly. Their technology, as it’s described in a press release that went out this week, is pretty impressive. And they are arist-friendly. If it came down to the labels vs redigi, I’d say redigi has a very strong case.
Man..time flies. 1st of April already and i thought we were still in October..
Short answer: it’s not legal.
And where’s a profit for song legal owners – musicians from it? What engine does ReDigi offer to verify if a user uploading used files bought them or got illegally? Should he/she send an invoice copy or something? If that’s gonna work, then imagine all those new stores to open, selling used pictures (yes, even yours), used software (hey I have a used MS Windows, how about it?) Besides, using their app on a single computer (easy to find online) puts a subscriber in a great risk of being sued by RIAA or any other international organizations for uploading music that way. What kind of protection does ReDigi offer to subscribers against the law? It can’t work.
The legal situation is complicated but I’m of the opinion a second-hand marketplace for digital music could be of benefit to the industry. Some thoughts on that here
http://blog.fatdrop.co.uk/a-rant-about-second-hand-digital-music #ReDigi
people sell cd’s and second hand vinyl? is this so different? once you’ve bought something isnt it your property to with it as you wish…..
Hey Guto, physical property is not the same thing as digital property. You can’t compare something that takes up space in your attic to something that’s physically invisible. Also, 1+1=2
Hey Guto, physical property is not the same thing as digital property. You can’t compare something that takes up space in your attic to something that’s physically invisible. Also, 1+1=2