Selling iTunes
Written by Phillip Winn
Published September 10, 2003

First he tried to sell an iTune on eBay, an effort that didn't work out so well. eBay canceled the auction, claiming it violated their "Downloadable Media Policy."

So he found a private party outside of eBay and then contacted Apple to get the song transferred. They said it wasn't possible.

Finally, he hit upon the solution, and he transferred the entire account. It worked, and now Keith Elder and not George Hotelling is the proud owner of Double Dutch Bus by Devin Vasquez.

This tends to make more sense anyway, as the only practical reason that anybody would buy iTunes from a private party rather than Apple directly is if they would get them at a discount, and the effort makes small collections unwieldy. It's hard to imagine a way to enable transferring albums or songs that doesn't open the door wide to easy piracy, but I'll have to think about that. There is a mechanism in iTunes to de-authorize a computer, perhaps that could be extended?

Sadly, nothing by Devin Vasquez is available on Amazon.com.

Phillip Winn is the Technical Director for BC Magazine, which leaves him far too little time to write, which makes every article he writes that much more precious.
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Selling iTunes
Published: September 10, 2003
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Section: Music
Writer: Phillip Winn
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Comments

#1 — September 10, 2003 @ 14:35PM — Jim Carruthers [URL]

After all, if we can trade in the fictional area known as the stock market, why can't we trade music.

Is the digital file of "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life" worth less than a share in Enron?

Well, the answer is no. It is worth more.

I've owned a couple thousand shares on the stock market which are now worth nothing. I own and trade digital music files which are worth a whole bunch more, and give me joy every day.

Of course, if the music companies had to compete in an open market, well, I guess they wouldn't like that one bit, two bits or any bits.

#2 — September 10, 2003 @ 15:29PM — George Hotelling [URL]

Actually, the album the song is from is available on Amazon. It's also available on eBay, as I found out, just not in a pre-ripped format.

#3 — September 10, 2003 @ 16:13PM — Phillip Winn [URL]

Thanks, George, for the effort and for the info. I updated the post with the Amazon link, though I left the text unchanged. Amusingly, you seem to have bought the album on eBay for $3 (including shipping). You are 'georgeh734,' right? ;)

#4 — September 10, 2003 @ 16:15PM — Eric Olsen

Quite a journey George, thanks for sharing it with us!

#5 — September 10, 2003 @ 17:20PM — me

Thankyou much!

#6 — November 4, 2003 @ 21:30PM — Mac Diva [URL]

I don't see a future in reselling iTunes music, but I like seeing someone push eBay's buttons.

#7 — December 28, 2003 @ 13:06PM — TDavid [URL]

Hmm, might want to add breaking up long links to the fix list, when there is time. This might be a good technique to catch comment spammers too, the bastids!

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