Google’s new eBookstore is open for business, selling over three million books. This is great news. I like books and I like technology and I like competition. I particularly like the partnership which Google has forged with local bricks and mortar bookstores, allowing the stores to sell ebooks through their own web sites.
I will not be buying any of these ebooks, though, and I discourage you from buying them. If you were to you buy an ebook from Google, you would accept a license which states, “Restrictions. You may not sell…, transfer, or assign your rights to the Digital Content or any portion of it to any third party….” Take note, publishers: When I buy something, I reserve my rights to sell it, lend it, or give it away.
If I sold you a paper book, would you accept any restrictions from me on what you could do with it after you paid for it? Why would you accept such restrictions on an ebook?
