By: Bruce R

Bruce R — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:50:59 +0000

Precisely what rights the buyer of an ebook has depends on the terms of the license granted by the ebook publisher. Most will not include the right to sell the ebook. So if you buy an ebook on ebay, where the seller’s license did not allow him to resell, you do not have the right to resell either.

Here’s part of an ebook license:
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1. Grant of License
Publisher has authorized download by you of one copy of the electronic book (ebook). Publisher grants you a nonexclusive, nontransferable license to use the ebook according to the terms and conditions herein. This License Agreement permits you to install the ebook for your use only.

2. Restrictions
You shall not: (1) resell, rent, assign, timeshare, distribute, or transfer all or part of the ebook or any rights granted hereunder to any other person; (2) duplicate the ebook, except for a single backup or archival copy; (3) remove any proprietary notices, labels, or marks from the ebook ; (4) transfer or sublicense title to the ebook to any other party.
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So as you can see, the ebay reseller would be violating the terms of his license if he sold you the ebook he bought with this license.

ebooks are copyrighted. The author owns the right to sell the ebook, unless he transfers that right to someone else (like an ebook publisher for example).
References :

By: Joe 6pack American

Joe 6pack American — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:34:59 +0000

If they give you the resale rights you can resell them.

Also I’m not sure how many years but if they haven’t renewed the copyright after so much time it is free game.
References :

Comments on: Can I resell ebooks ?

By: Bruce R

By: Joe 6pack American