本文主要處理的是二手軟體轉售於歐盟與美國的若干重要發展。數位傳輸的興起，如電子書、MP3 與軟體程式等，不僅對於傳統的購買概念產生衝擊，並且影響到消費者能否依其所願，再度轉售或散布其已購買的作品。由於欠缺耗盡則如何適用於數位作品的清楚操作判準，著作權人遂透過內容不斷強化的授權契約，對此類作品的使用與轉讓做出限制，用以規避散布權的耗盡。結果是，耗盡原則不斷的邊緣化與購買數位著作消費者的挫敗。數位產品與數位服務之間的區別越來越模糊，與此同時，美國實務卻不斷助長軟體業者對於散布控制的強化，而與歐洲呈現不同的取徑。我認為，對於軟體使用所謂「授權」的概念，對比現實上已透過載體（CD、DVD、硬碟）永久持有重製作品者的情形，與耗盡原則的理念衝突；並且，只有將耗盡原則無分軒輊的適用於網路領域，才能有效對抗軟體商規避此原則的契約條款。

This article is mainly discussing about some important developments with regard to the resale of used software licenses in EU and U.S.. In more detail, the rise of digitally transmitted content such as eBooks, mp3s and computer programs has conflicted traditional notions about whether consumers actually own what they buy, and whether they will be entitled to resell or otherwise dispose of their downloaded purchases as they please. Given the lack of clarity as to whether the principle of exhaustion applies to digitally transmitted works and the doctrine's inapplicability to situations where possession but not ownership of a copy of the work occurs, copyright owners have increasingly implemented license agreements in order to impose restrictions on the use and transferability of digital works and to circumvent the exhaustion of distribution right. As
a result, the principle of exhaustion is increasingly marginalized and buyers are frustrated.
The distinction between digital goods and digital services are getting vague and in the U.S. jurisprudence the position of software vendors to control distribution seems to be strengthened. In Europe jurisprudence, on the other hand, the position of software vendors might be weakened. In my opinion, using the meaning of “licensing” software, where that means transferring perpetual possession of a copy but retaining title to the copy, is incoherent with exhaustion principle. Only the application of the exhaustion principle to the online sale of software as well as the sale of a master copy may render countervailing contractual clauses in the producer’s licensing agreements invalid