# If I buy a download from iTunes, what do I own? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-buy-a-download-from-itunes-what-do-i-own/290628 "2005-02-18T01:00:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tastes_of_chocolate/32/3232_2.png) [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tastes_of_Chocolate)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-buy-a-download-from-itunes-what-do-i-own/290628/1 "2005-02-18T01:00:26Z")
If I buy a CD, or a book, or a DVD, I have the option of giving or selling that item to another person or store. If I purchase downloads of songs from iTunes, do I have the right to delete it from all of my equipment, but give the file to a friend instead? ---
**Author:** ![CaveMike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cavemike/32/16379_2.png) [@CaveMike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaveMike)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-buy-a-download-from-itunes-what-do-i-own/290628/2 "2005-02-18T01:17:04Z")
[This](http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/legal/policies.html) is the iTunes Terms of Sale and I didn’t see anything about resale. [This](http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-5071108.html) CNET article from Sept 2003 probes the same question. Apparently someone listed a iTunes download for sale on eBay to test the waters. I found a bunch of other articles related to the eBay auction, but that is it so far. Still looking for something more recent… ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-buy-a-download-from-itunes-what-do-i-own/290628/3 "2005-02-18T01:47:44Z")
Technically, I believe you have the right to play the audio file and burn it to CDs for your own use. Reselling the file or a CD is a clear violation of the terms of sale, IIRC. The legality of burning a CD and then _giving_ it away (as a gift) is a bit fuzzier. I suppose if you subsequently delete the file from your computer, that’s probably okay. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-buy-a-download-from-itunes-what-do-i-own/290628/4 "2005-02-18T02:49:04Z")
According to the RIAA you own nothing. You paid for it…you bought it…but it ain’t yours. You just bought the right to listen to it. Got a radio? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-buy-a-download-from-itunes-what-do-i-own/290628/5 "2005-02-18T03:57:35Z")
You purchased a license. The license gives you certain rights and restricts others. Licenses are specific rather than universal, so you have to read your license carefully to tell what you can or cannot do. Ownership is not really the right word to use, and just confuses the issue in everybody’s minds. IANAL.