Who owns your downloaded music after you die?

• Posted by Sindhuri G September 4, 2012 - Filed in Technology - 2,131 views

  Earlier today, a story emerged from the British tabloids that Bruce Willis was considering suing Apple in a bid to determine who gets his iTunes music collection after his death. Perhaps something more suited for April Fool's Day? We reported it (and fell for it) and we've updated the piece to reflect that the original source was a work of fiction. (Willis' wife tweeted this morning that the story was not true.)

  But the one thing still not settled or answered from today's misreporting: what happens to downloaded content when the buyer passes away? (Spoiler alert: just because you buy it doesn't mean you own it, and certainly doesn't mean you can do whatever you like with it.)

  Only one in a million people actually read the terms and conditions of any Web site, service, or application. You immediately jump to the bottom of the screen and hit the "I Agree" button and sail off on your digital downloading way. It's the terms and conditions which govern exactly who owns the music you buy even once you escape the mortal coil.

  Questions have been left with Apple, but did not respond outside U.S. business hours at the time of writing.