Online Textbook Piracy

In reading the article on publishers fighting textbook piracy, it seems to me that the book companies are taking the same foolish approach of the recording industry.

I teach math and physics at the introductory level, and from what I've seen the books that I want my students to use cost about $200 new and a little bit less if they are used. I honestly feel bad for assigning a book because of the high costs. Further, it is not the cost of print that is making the price of the book so high but rather all of the bells and whistles that are included with the book, many of which the students either refuse to use or do not have time to use. So, perhaps as a way of combating this piracy, the textbook publishers should produce high quality books, but with fewer electronic supplements, or perhaps the cost of those supplements should only be paid for by those who use them, not the ones who don't.

For example, perhaps, we should should offer options for purchase. If you want a copy of the book then you pay x dollars for it. If you want an electronic copy or access to electronic supplements on a web page ect, then the student should be informed that it is available and then let them make the decision to use it (and pay for it or not).

Maybe the textbook publishers should consider cutting some of their overhead, rather than making books that no one can afford. In this way, perhaps they will not need to worry about piracy.

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