Partial Ownership of Digital Rights Management (DRM)-Restricted Commodities: A Conceptual Metaphor Theory Analysis of Adam Smith’s Political Economy

Abstract

This paper applies Conceptual Metaphor Theory to Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations to examine the implications of commodities delivered under Digital Rights Management (DRM) and restrictive licensing in modern markets. Smith’s model rests on the complete transfer of ownership in every exchange, where commodities are conceptualised as containers of labour whose contents pass fully to the buyer. This principle supports transparency and sustains a stable division of labour, which Smith viewed as essential to productivity and social cohesion. DRM-restricted digital goods, such as software, e-books, video games and music, violate this logic by retaining seller control after purchase, turning sales into disguised rentals. These practices misrepresent transactions, distort market signals and create power imbalances. Drawing on Durkheim’s theory of organic solidarity, the paper argues that such arrangements erode both economic trust and cooperative bonds. It concludes by considering whether DRM-restricted commodities should be classified alongside the monopolistic and collusive practices Smith believed warranted regulation.