Is a copyright owners consent required for selling second hand books on e-bay?


The US Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider whether an eBay seller needs the consent of a copyright owner to import and resell books manufactured abroad.

Though U.S. law gives such freedom under the first-sale doctrine, the idea of applying the rule to foreign works is novel.

Unable to use the doctrine as a defense, Supap Kirtsaeng was ordered by a federal jury in Manhattan to pay $600,000 in damages to John Wiley & Sons for copyright infringement.

For full article see: Courthouse News Service.

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