Well, i'm a lawyer, and his position is at least defensible.

After all, the difference between leasing and buying is exactly right to use vs ownership.

Leasing/licensing have retention of ownership in the provider, buying does not.

Without having thought about it for more than 5 minutes, I can't think of any legal difference other than terminology.

Note that there is a difference in real property: Licensing is about giving someone the right to do something that would otherwise be unlawful, whereas leasing is generally about right to possess.

However, this is not the distinction software "licenses" are making.

I'm a lawyer in common sense. "Buying a license" is what penn & teller call BS. There's a common sense understanding of what buying is, and kindle books don't fall into that category.

I will admit that "legally speaking" was perhaps not accurate. But is it really?