Used Ebooks, The Ridiculous Idea That Could Also Destroy The Publishing Industry

Could Amazon Patent Destroy Publishing?
A picture shows an Ipad with an 'Amazon' logo on November 13, 2012 in Paris. French tax authorities have demanded $252 million in back taxes and interest from online retailer Amazon, according to a company document on November 13, 2012.AFP PHOTO / LIONEL BONAVENTURE (Photo credit should read LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images)
A picture shows an Ipad with an 'Amazon' logo on November 13, 2012 in Paris. French tax authorities have demanded $252 million in back taxes and interest from online retailer Amazon, according to a company document on November 13, 2012.AFP PHOTO / LIONEL BONAVENTURE (Photo credit should read LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP/Getty Images)

Amazon has a patent to sell used ebooks. When I first scanned the headline, I thought it must be some Onion-esque gag, and I'm sure I wasn't alone. Used e-books? As in, rumpled up, dog-eared pdfs? Faded black-and-white kindle cover art, Calibri notes typed in the margins that you can't erase?

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot