Part 6/11:
The heart of this dilemma touches on evolving notions of ownership. Historically, under the First Sale Doctrine, consumers held rights over their purchased goods. However, as more products incorporate sophisticated software and digital locks, the lines between ownership and licensing have blurred. For instance, when purchasing a new tractor, farmers may find these hefty investments come with stipulations that technically restrict their ownership rights. They are led to believe they own the tractor, while in reality, they are merely licensing the software that governs its operation.