Slashdot Mirror
Paying for Apple iTunes with PayPal
MrIcee writes "While cruising eBay today I noted that some clever individual has apparently stepped up to fill the void left by the fact that Apple's iTunes service does not accept PayPal. While insisting that buyers follow Apple's terms of service, is buying and reselling the gift certificate legal or not? If legal, it's an interesting and simple idea that could be applied to many areas." It is pretty neat, even if the $16 markup is a little ludicrous. It's like the old adage: a fool and his PayPal account are soon parted.
Reload the link to eBay and look at the counter near the bottom of the auction listing. See the Slashdot effect in real time. Impressive.
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Section 11.a:
Payment for Products. You agree to pay for all Products you purchase through the Service, and that Apple may charge your credit card for any Products purchased, and for any additional amounts (including any taxes and late fees, as applicable) as may be accrued by or in connection with your Account. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIMELY PAYMENT OF ALL FEES AND FOR PROVIDING APPLE WITH A VALID CREDIT CARD FOR PAYMENT OF ALL FEES. All fees will be billed to the credit card you designate during the registration process. If you want to designate a different credit card or if there is a change in your credit card status, you must change your credit card information online at the Account Info section of the Service. (There may be a temporary disruption of your access to the Service until Apple can verify the validity of the new credit card information.)
So how would this work when buying initially through a gift certificate bought through a middleman? Would I, as the buyer, pay the middleman to pay my iTunes bill for me?
Why go to all the hassle and bad publicity of a C&D when, with a little extra effort, they could just quietly refuse to sell gift certificates to anyone who orders more than a couple at a time, or just pull the gift certificate product altogether for a month or so. Anyone want to take bets on it happening that way?
I find your ideas intriguing and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter.
here is my listing
When punk rock is outlawed, only outlaws will have punk rock.
It may check your IP address, but that can be easily circumvented; they surely wouldn't rely on just that.
Guess the mammoth of eBay can't even withstand the slashdot effect.
By the way, how do you mod posts anyways?
Steve
Candle burns its brightest in the dark
Or would that violate the agreement between Apple (Computer) and Apple (Records)?
Apple (Computer) doesn't seem bothered by that prospect. A little history:
Apple (records) came first. Apple (Computer) tried to register a trademark or some such, and Apple (records) sued. Apple (Computer) (correctly) said that they're in different businesses, thus no namespace collision, thus no trademark problem. Apple (records) backed down, and said "stay out of our business, and you're in the clear."
Apple (Computer) put speakers in their computers. Apple (records) sued. Apple (Computer) paid 'em off.
Apple (Computer) made an iPod. Apple (records) sued. Apple (Computer) paid 'em off.
Apple (Computer) is now distributing music. Apple (records) sued. Apple (Computer) will no doubt send another few million their way.
Clearly Apple (Computer) has no problem periodically dishing out a little cash to grease the palms of commerce. Which isn't surprising - Steve's hardly the kind of guy to back down just because technically he isn't supposed to do it...
High-speed Road Trip (18.000KPH)
That's kinda cute... so the middle man gets your quarter, *and* a copy of your song. Does their DRM counter that that all?
I write code.