Galileo buys a copy of the book Hip Hop. Later, after reading the book, Galileo sells the book to his sister Inez. This sale of the book is
A) legal.
B) legal only if the copyright has expired.
C) legal only if he sells it for less than he paid for it.
D) illegal.

Question

Galileo buys a copy of the book Hip Hop. Later, after reading the book, Galileo sells the book to his sister Inez. This sale of the book is
A) ​legal.
B) ​legal only if the copyright has expired.
C) ​legal only if he sells it for less than he paid for it.
D) ​illegal.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sale of the book from Galileo to his sister Inez is legal, as long as it is a genuine copy of the book and Galileo does not make any unauthorized copies. Once Galileo has purchased the book, he can sell it, give it away or dispose of it as he wishes. This is known as the "first sale doctrine" and is a legal principle that allows the owner of a copyrighted work to sell, lend or give away their copy without permission from the copyright owner.

Galileo Buys a Copy of the Book Hip Hop