On the iPhone, you can re-download apps you've purchased. So why can't you re-download music you've purchased?

You can re-download it, actually. They don’t advertise this, but you most definitely can do it at least once.

Just use Home Sharing.

I think because people could abuse it easily. You can’t really sell apps on the street corner, but you can sell bootleg CDs

I agree on the sentiment. You can’t stifle piracy if it’s offers better service than market alternatives.

@troubleinharlem However if I buy an album from iTunes, the first thing I do is burn it to a cd using iTunes so I can listen to it in the car, so the bootleg capacity already exists after downloading the album the first time. Making it unavailable for a second download prevents nothing.

They get really, really pissy if they are asked more than once and it annoys the shit out of me.

silly copyrights, remember if an app is in the store apple owns its sole, this does not apply to music

Same thing for TV and video media. Poo, I say. Poo.

the bootleg capacity already exists after downloading the album the first time. Making it unavailable for a second download prevents nothing.

Yes, but copying it on your machine does not use Apple’s resources. From a business perspective, why spend time and effort making up for careless customers’ mistakes.

They will do it if you ask. Once.