In search of a cyber hero

ONE of the oddest afternoons I ever spent was going through the books of a dead friend and choosing which ones I’d like to keep. It was his widow’s idea. Bittersweet, it’s true but, surprisingly, not a bit morbid.

Like me, the dear departed had been a bit “precious” about his books, so she reckoned he’d be happy they were going to a good home, especially as he and I were the only people she knew who’d enjoy the “dry” tomes, anyway. The rest would be donated to a library, where like-minded souls (“similarly dreary”, reckons the beloved) would doubtless find and enjoy them, too.

I’d like to think my dead-tree books – in the waaaaaaaay distant future, of course – will go to equally good homes. There’s enough of them, that’s for sure. What’s been worrying me, though, is how I’ll pass on my treasured digital collection (a couple of hundred at the last count, and still growing), so you can imagine my delight when I heard that Die Hard star Bruce Willis had similar concerns and was even thinking of suing Apple Inc. It wasn’t electronic books he was worried about, according to newspaper reports (although I’m sure tough guys do read), it was his massive digital music collection. He’d paid a small fortune for it so, understandably, he wanted it included in his kids’ inheritance.

I was impressed: if he could beat the powerful Apple to a pulp, Amazon would doubtless cave in over e-books, too – and then we’d all really own what we thought was already ours!

He was, said the reports, planning to urge Apple to let users establish family trusts as “holders” of the music, and was thinking of supporting other legal action to try to force the corporation to allow users more rights over the music they buy from iTunes.

For one giddy moment, 21st century collectors of music and books worldwide felt they’d finally get some real and lasting value from the digital treasures for which, after all, they’d paid.

But it turns out the story was just that – a story.

I wondered why Bruce had been so quiet on the subject lately – the original reports surfaced several months ago – and now his wife, Emma Heming-Willis, has burst the bubble. “It’s not a true story,” tweeted Mrs Willis, after tech blogger Richie D had suggested: “Just tell Bruce to give his daughter his login and password to PC and iTunes and he’ll live forever.”

So that was the end of my hope for a sane solution – and the prospect of leaving some of my “weightier” digital reading matter to a library. Whatever we may think, it turns out that our precious collections aren’t even considered to be books and music. They’re just software items. And we’re merely paying for the licence to read or listen to them.

Seems those sneaky cyber bullies are using similar underhand methods to those that recently resulted in my having to shell out for a brand new version of Windows, even though the one on my burned-out laptop was legitimate, fully paid for and registered in my name.

Oh, Brucie. Where are you when we really need you?

Today’s Chiel is Stevie Godson. E-mail her  at