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[neutralname]

I just tried to use CourseSmart to view a textbook as an instructor, and it told me that I can't, since I'm not currently in the USA.  Does that apply also to students who rent textbooks?  Does it mean that they can only view textbooks while in the country?

How widely does this copyright restriction apply?  Can Kindle and Nook users access their books while abroad? 

I do know that I can download ebooks from my town library and still view them while abroad. 

Since many schools have international students and other students who travel, it would be a major factor in choice of textbook is such copyright issues apply in many online textbooks and ebooks.

[peppergal]

Kindle users can access content while abroad.  Don't know about Nook.

I have not run into this problem with textbooks, but several out of print reference books I have in my Google Books library were suddenly unavailable when I was outside the US.  There are a couple ways around this, for example using a proxy server (which many universities have available) or a VPN.  I use a VPN, and I don't feel like I'm violating any laws since I would be able to get these books by ILL or out of my personal library.  It's just faster and easier on my back to download them from Google Books.