first sale doctrine

n.LawA limit on a copyright owner's interests beyond the initial sale of a particular copy of a protected work.

Notes

While the owner of copyright has exclusive rights to control the distribution of a protected work, the owner of a legally acquired copy may, with some restrictions,sell or otherwise dispose of that copy without regard to the copyright owner. The doctrine does not allow for the rental, lease, or lending of a sound recording or computer program for commercial advantage. See 17 USC 109(a).