Who gets your digital files when you die?

[rcarlberg]

Delaware has just passed the nation's first law allowing transfer of digital files to your heirs.
http://abcn.ws/1rkwR35

Expect to hear a lot more about this as the story develops.

[Wounded Land]

If you can't will it to your heirs, you don't own it.

Interesting development, but I feel like people who are into file-based music playback are migrating to streaming services, so this will be even less of an issue in years to come.

[JKL2000]

If you can't will it to your heirs, you don't own it.

Interesting development, but I feel like people who are into file-based music playback are migrating to streaming services, so this will be even less of an issue in years to come.

Only when streaming services include stuff like every Cast album ever released (the Mexican band that is), the Episode album, Curious Works, all the Musea's releases. In fact, they need to include all the OOP stuff we might have in our collections, including stuff that's never been released digitally. If a streaming service isn't complete, it's not of much interest to me really.

[Wounded Land]

I'm not suggesting that a subscription-based streaming service is right for everyone (I personally don't have any interest in it), but I do suspect that it will be the dominant form of music delivery sooner rather than later. More specifically, it will supplant the iTunes model of pay-for-download.

I'm a physical media guy myself, but I can see the writing on the wall.

[JJ88]

Wasn't there some story about Bruce Willis trying to do this with his downloads?

[Dave (in MA)]

I can envision my heirs refusing to accept them.

[Superfly]

No one's going to get mine...because I don't have the f^>%!#g things

[No Pride]

I can envision my heirs refusing to accept them.

I can't envision my heirs wanting them.

[rcarlberg]

I can't envision my heirs wanting them.

Maybe you can ask to be buried with them?

[Superfly]

...and here's the real downside of digital downloads: they have no secondary market value whatsoever. Your relatives aren't really going to give a shit about your digital collection, whereas my kids will fight over my hard copy collection of cd's and vinyl so they can trade them in.

[rcarlberg]

...and here's the real downside of digital downloads: they have no secondary market value whatsoever.

Becaussssseeeee....up until this new Delaware law, all digital downloads reverted to the copyright owner on your passing.

[Mister Triscuits]

my kids will fight over my hard copy collection of cd's and vinyl so they can trade them in.

Wait till they find out about your stash of empty Coke bottles!

[Luckie]

Can't speak for the rest of you heathens, but Jesus will be getting mine. I bet he thinks Side 2 of TFTO is underrated.

[strawberrybrick]

I thought it was whoever has your password...

[rcarlberg]

Can't speak for the rest of you heathens, but Jesus will be getting mine.

Jesus only does analog.

[davis]

You mean I have to die?

[bob_32_116]

Fuck you and your book too
You can have it back
When I'm gone these songs
will be my tracks.

(Porcupine Tree - Even Less)

[No Pride]

Maybe you can ask to be buried with them?

Nah, but I can offer them up as a package deal when I donate my body to science.

[JJ88]

Becaussssseeeee....up until this new Delaware law, all digital downloads reverted to the copyright owner on your passing.

The point still remains though, how would you 'sell' a download, as some people do with their deceased relative's collections?

[JKL2000]

The point still remains though, how would you 'sell' a download, as some people do with their deceased relative's collections?

Maybe a hard drive containing a whole collection, or a portion of one. Or DVDs with the files burned onto them?

[Scrotum Scissor]

I'm bringing my whole darn music collection with me to that other darn side, and if they don't have vinyl players then I'm not going.

[Mister Triscuits]

I'm bringing my whole darn music collection with me to that other darn side, and if they don't have vinyl players then I'm not going.

Where you're going they have only vintage 8-track cartridges.

[Scrotum Scissor]

Where you're going they have only vintage 8-track cartridges.

Holy shit, are those like dictaphones?!

[rcarlberg]

Hell is all digital for some people. All analog for others.

[Scrotum Scissor]

Hell is all digital for some people. All analog for others.

That's why I've chosen not to go to either hell or heaven, but to Stynkers, a rural hillbilly hollow outside of south Spokane.