Story highlights
Report: Bruce Willis wants to bequeath his iTunes music collection to his daughters
Apple limits use of digital music to Apple gadgets used by the iTunes account holder
A legal challenge against Apple could raise significant issues about ownership of digital music
NEW: Actor's wife, Emma Heming-Willis, cast doubt on the report Monday on Twitter
Bruce Willis has vanquished terrorists, basement rapists and the defenses of Cybill Shepherd. But in his three decades in Hollywood he may not have faced as daunting an opponent as Apple.
According to an unconfirmed report in a British publication, Willis wants to bequeath his extensive iTunes music collection to his daughters – something that’s not permitted under the current iTunes terms.
The Daily Mail says the actor has spent thousands of dollars downloading music on to “many, many iPods” but, like many iTunes users, was surprised to discover that in Apple’s eyes he doesn’t actually own the songs. The Mail, without citing any sources, says Willis is considering legal action against Apple to gain control over the music.
CNN could not confirm the report Monday, and a request sent to representatives for Willis was not immediately returned. The “Die Hard” actor’s wife, Emma Heming-Willis, cast doubt on the report when she said Monday on Twitter, “It’s not a true story.”
But the news reports, exaggerated or not, do raise potentially significant issues about ownership of digital music and whether someone could pass on digital assets to heirs.
