RESALE OF DIGITAL WORKS UNDER COPYRIGHT LAWS: A LEGAL AND ECONOMIC
ANALYSIS
DR. MUHAMMAD MASUM BILLAH
ABSTRACT
Through the first sale doctrine, copyright laws around the world establish for an owner of the copy of
a copyrighted work the right to resell, lend, donate, and, in some cases, even to rent the copy. Under
the doctrine, the copyright holder loses any control over the future distribution of a copy of the work
after the sale of that copy. The purchaser of the copy is free to treat it like any other property she/he/they
possesses. She/he/they can transfer it to anyone else through a resale or donation. The doctrine is part of the
balance copyright law strikes between the interests of copyright holders and those of purchasers of
the copies. While the right still exists in law, in most digital works copyright holders and their
distributors deprive purchasers of this right through digital right management (DRM) technologies
and contractual terms. By establishing the continued justifications of this right in the context of
digital works, the paper argues for its preservation and recommends for necessary legislative
changes to guarantee the application of the first sale doctrine to digital works.
Copyright © 2018 The John Marshall Law School
Cite as Dr. Muhammad Masum Billah, Resale of Digital Works Under Copyright Laws:
A Legal and Economic Analysis, 18 J. MARSHALL REV. INTELL. PROP. L. 123

DISCLAIMER WE DO NOT BUILD OR CLAIM OWNERSHIP OF ANY THE ASSETS SEEN IN THE STORE WE ARE A RESELLING SERVICE THAT HELPS SELL EXCLUSIVE FIVEM/GTA V BASED CONTENT AT MORE AFFORDABLE PRICES,
IF YOU'RE THE CREATOR(S) OF SAID CONTENT YOU CAN REQUEST US TO REMOVE SAID CONTENT FROM THE SHOP FOR A SMALL REMOVAL FEE PER CONTENT(S),
WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO RESELL/SELL DUE TO NATURE OF THE STATEMENT(S) SEEN ABOVE ⁠⁠ YOUR ASSETS WILL ONLY BE REMOVED AFTER A SUCCESSFUL PAYMENT IS MADE, THE PAYMENT AMOUNT MUST BE AGREED UPON THROUGH BOTH PARTIES IF THE AGREED AMOUNT IS NOT PAID IN FULL FOR SAID CONTENT REMOVAL YOUR ASSET(S) WILL REMAIN FOR SALE IN THE SHOP