The
first-sale doctrine (also sometimes referred to as the "right
of first sale" or the "first sale rule") is a legal concept that limits
the rights of an
intellectual property
owner to control resale of products embodying its intellectual
property. The doctrine enables the distribution chain of copyrighted
products, library lending, giving, video rentals and secondary markets
for copyrighted works (for example, enabling individuals to sell their
legally purchased books or CDs to others). In trademark law, this same
doctrine enables reselling of trademarked products after the trademark
holder puts the products on the market.