Why digital "purchases" are revocable licenses — and physical media remains true ownership

Summary

This article argues that digital purchases of movies, games, and books are actually revocable licenses rather than true ownership, because digital storefronts retain control and can remotely remove content. In contrast, physical media like Blu-rays, game cartridges, and printed books cannot be remotely altered or deactivated, allowing genuine ownership, resale, lending, archiving, and offline playback. The piece warns that when digital stores shut down or lose rights, paid-for content can disappear, making a case for the enduring value of physical media.

Source

Hacker NewsWhy digital "purchases" are revocable licenses — and physical media remains true ownershipdervis.de