The First Sale Doctrine Under Copyright Law - Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons
12/6/2012 Video
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A case before the U.S. Supreme Court called Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons will decide whether the "first sale doctrine" under copyright law applies to goods first purchased outside the U.S.
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The "first sale doctrine" provides that once a copy of a copyrighted work is sold it can be re-sold by the purchaser without infringing the copyright.
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The Second Circuit held in Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons that the “first sale doctrine” under copyright law only applies to goods manufactured within the U.S.
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This case could have a big impact on companies involved in secondary markets such as online marketplaces, online auctions and even public libraries.
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A decision is expected in early 2013.
