Marvel Digital Codes

[bralinator]

Now I am reading that while Marvel is shifting from digital copies of the comic for free in their books, DC is actually going back to it. I can see people simply channeling former Marvel money to DC in light of Marvel's decision to drop codes after so many successful years with a similar initiative. Many readers will be glad to financially support the company that is most supportive of them.

Details here: http://www.cbr.com/dc-comics-raises-pri ... tal-codes/

[drew]

do we know how long the marvel codes will be valid - think they will honor the current grace period dates listed

[bralinator]

I think they will honor the one-year expiration on their codes. This is just a phase out.

[MichaelCastle]

Comic book confession: I've never read a digital comic. Thinking about trying Marvel Unlimited. Is it user friendly? Is the reading experience just as good?

[fudd71]

Comic book confession: I've never read a digital comic. Thinking about trying Marvel Unlimited. Is it user friendly? Is the reading experience just as good?

I had never read a digital comic before I subscribed to Marvel Unlimited. I use a 10" tablet and the experience is simple and easy. I love it, I have even used my wife's 9 inch tablet and it is great. I'm not sure I would go any smaller, and personally I have found the web browser version on my laptop not to my liking, it works find I just don't like the experience personally.

[SpideySavestheDay]

Following up on the value of digital codes conversation on the Mayo Report, I've sold and purchased digital codes on eBay for $1-2 each. At times, I struck deals with sellers for their codes on monthly book. That's how I read Jason Aaron's run on Thor.

It's not a bad little subsidization opportunity; I will be able to continue reading DCs monthly books at no additional cost.

[HipHopHead]

The comics redeem under Marvel's revised digital code policy...SUCKS!!

I subscribed to several Marvel titles, since I came to conclusion the cost of a 12-issue subscription with a free digital code of each book was a bargain. $23.99 for 12 issues instead of $3.99 or $4.99 and I save gas by having the postal service deliver.

Why does it suck? I received 3 digital copies when I redeemed the code from Star Wars #28.

Old Man Logan #1
Civil War II #0
Captain Marvel (2016) #6

Two of the three books I already have and the third just not interested in the character.

What is the big deal about selling the digital code?

How many times can single digital code be sold?

If Marvel was upset with the reselling of digital codes, why are they not upset about the reselling physical comic?

[JohnMayo]

What is the big deal about selling the digital code?

How many times can single digital code be sold?

If Marvel was upset with the reselling of digital codes, why are they not upset about the reselling physical comic?

The key difference is when you sell the physical comic, you no longer have the physical comic. But when you sell the digital code which came with the physical comic, you still have the physical comic. Presumably, from Marvel's perspective, the two were magically attached in some manner and treated as a single unit. Obviously, that wasn't the case and the digital codes were apparently sold which the physical were kept or vice versa.

This is were the "First Sale Doctrine" with origins dealing with solely physical objects doesn't translate very well into our modern digital age.

[bralinator]

Actually I see it another way. A buyer could only sell Marvel's digital code once because it can only be used once. For me, I have sold entire runs of print comics that I've already read, but I redeemed the codes before I sold the books. Now, if I want to go back and re-read a Marvel book that I used to physically own, I can just read it on my iPad. Less clutter and space being taken up, plus if the run was well-received, I can sometimes make a small profit and STILL have a way to read the books.

However, a physical comic can be read, sold, borrowed, traded, until it is worn out. Several readers can share the book and sell it and re-sell it ad infinitum. But once a Marvel digital copy is redeemed, there is no further ability to transfer it to anyone else. That person is the only rightful user. So the "first sale doctrine" is not applicable since the first person who redeems the code no longer has the ability to be transferred to someone else.

It is more of a "tethered approach." Even if you buy it through Comixology, the Marvel app, or redeem a free code, you have not actually "bought" anything, it is Marvel's content and you just have access to it at their discretion. DRM is overly restrictive, and you are tethered to ComiXology or Marvel's applications to read the books you've have purchased. Same goes for DC Comics and Dark Horse.

Other companies and publishers, such as Dynamite, Image, Valiant, and others, allow you to download a DRM-free back-up file or a CBR or CRZ which is essentially a PDF like file of the comic which you can store, transfer, share, etc, but Marvel doesn't allow a download that is transferable at all. It is similar to iTunes in this way, except with iTunes there are other ways to get the songs in another format in case you want to burn a CD or drop the files on a thumb drive. Not so with Marvel's digital comics, unless there's something I have overlooked.

More info on this subject can be found here:

https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2425402,00.asp
https://comicsalliance.com/comixology-a ... ee-titles/
http://lifehacker.com/5785737/a-comic-b ... ng-digital
https://www.comicsbeat.com/the-mechanic ... oad-codes/
https://thenextweb.com/media/2013/03/03 ... nd-market/
https://www.comicsbeat.com/marvel-fans- ... incentive/

[victorvondoom]

Actually I see it another way. A buyer could only sell Marvel's digital code once because it can only be used once. For me, I have sold entire runs of print comics that I've already read, but I redeemed the codes before I sold the books. Now, if I want to go back and re-read a Marvel book that I used to physically own, I can just read it on my iPad. Less clutter and space being taken up, plus if the run was well-received, I can sometimes make a small profit and STILL have a way to read the books.

However, a physical comic can be read, sold, borrowed, traded, until it is worn out. Several readers can share the book and sell it and re-sell it ad infinitum. But once a Marvel digital copy is redeemed, there is no further ability to transfer it to anyone else. That person is the only rightful user. So the "first sale doctrine" is not applicable since the first person who redeems the code no longer has the ability to be transferred to someone else.

It is more of a "tethered approach." Even if you buy it through Comixology, the Marvel app, or redeem a free code, you have not actually "bought" anything, it is Marvel's content and you just have access to it at their discretion. DRM is overly restrictive, and you are tethered to ComiXology or Marvel's applications to read the books you've have purchased. Same goes for DC Comics and Dark Horse.

Other companies and publishers, such as Dynamite, Image, Valiant, and others, allow you to download a DRM-free back-up file or a CBR or CRZ which is essentially a PDF like file of the comic which you can store, transfer, share, etc, but Marvel doesn't allow a download that is transferable at all. It is similar to iTunes in this way, except with iTunes there are other ways to get the songs in another format in case you want to burn a CD or drop the files on a thumb drive. Not so with Marvel's digital comics, unless there's something I have overlooked.

More info on this subject can be found here:

https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2425402,00.asp
https://comicsalliance.com/comixology-a ... ee-titles/
http://lifehacker.com/5785737/a-comic-b ... ng-digital
https://www.comicsbeat.com/the-mechanic ... oad-codes/
https://thenextweb.com/media/2013/03/03 ... nd-market/
https://www.comicsbeat.com/marvel-fans- ... incentive/

Great take Bralinator!

-Jerry

[tehkeizer]

I'm not sure if this has been covered yet.

I have a buddy who reads comics, he used to buy comics, he doesnt anymore. He found a group of people who share a comixology account, he says there are like 20 or 30 people who have access to this account. There are a couple of guys in the group that get a LOT of comics and a lot of leechers. So basically he and a bunch of other people get "free comics". the account got shut down, so they built up another in no time.

I'm pretty sure this is what Marvel is trying to gaurd against with this change. I could be completely wrong though. Just a thought.