Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Guide to Mastering Your Certification!

The concept of a legitimate purchaser selling copyrighted material is best described by the term "first sale doctrine." This legal principle allows individuals who have lawfully purchased a copyrighted item to resell, lend, or give away that item without needing permission from the copyright holder. The first sale doctrine is essential because it supports the idea of consumer ownership rights by permitting the resale of goods, thereby promoting a secondary market for such items, which can include physical books, DVDs, or other copyrighted works.

By contrast, copyright infringement involves the unauthorized use, distribution, or reproduction of copyrighted works, and fair use relates to limited use of copyrighted materials without permission for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. Lastly, "use doctrine" is not a standard term recognized in copyright law, making it less applicable in this context. In essence, the first sale doctrine is crucial in balancing copyright protection with the rights of consumers.