Amazon MP3s restrictions
Posted by Jacque on October 10th, 2007
Although Amazon has introduced a new MP3 download service of DRM-free (not digitally locked) music, there are unusual restrictions which you might not notice. Close reading of the user agreement shows that the recording industry may have found a new way to go after anyone who doesn’t follow its rules, says Brier Dudley at the Seattle Times.
Amazon’s contract says you “may copy, store, transfer and burn the Digital Content” for personal use and that you “agree that you will not redistribute, transmit, assign, sell, broadcast, rent, share, lend, modify, adapt, edit, sub-license or otherwise transfer or use the Digital Content.”
Dudley checked with Fred von Lohmann, senior staff attorney with the Electronic Frontier Foundation. “He was surprised by the language and said it appears to enable record companies to pursue a breach of contract if, for instance, you loaned your mother an iPod containing MP3s bought from Amazon.”
Who knows if record companies will bother to pursue violators, but given recent large awards it certainly behooves MP3 buyers to pay attention to what they agree to at the Amazon site.
