Comments on: Ever had to buy ridiculously priced text books? http://tametheweb.com/2008/02/14/ever-had-to-buy-ridiculously-priced-text-books/ Libraries, Technology and People Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:35:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Bo Kinney http://tametheweb.com/2008/02/14/ever-had-to-buy-ridiculously-priced-text-books/#comment-1126 Bo Kinney Mon, 18 Feb 2008 22:53:39 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/2008/02/14/ever-had-to-buy-ridiculously-priced-text-books/#comment-1126 I had to buy a textbook for an accounting class this quarter, and the 2008 edition was required. It was only available new and cost about $50. The 2007 edition was available used through online sellers for $0.99. That's a 98% depreciation after one year. Even cars don't suffer that badly. I bought the 2008 version (I'm so good at following the rules), but compared books with a friend who bought last year's model. The only difference? The dates on all the sample forms had been changed. The textbook monopoly seems like such an obvious abuse of power on the part of universities and publishers. Because of copyright laws, and by extension DRM, any student who wants to fulfill the requirements of a college course is subject to paying whatever fee the textbook company wants to charge. Copyright laws were designed to stimulate creativity, but in this case they mainly seem to be providing financial subsidies to publishing companies. I had to buy a textbook for an accounting class this quarter, and the 2008 edition was required. It was only available new and cost about $50. The 2007 edition was available used through online sellers for $0.99. That’s a 98% depreciation after one year. Even cars don’t suffer that badly.

I bought the 2008 version (I’m so good at following the rules), but compared books with a friend who bought last year’s model. The only difference? The dates on all the sample forms had been changed.

The textbook monopoly seems like such an obvious abuse of power on the part of universities and publishers. Because of copyright laws, and by extension DRM, any student who wants to fulfill the requirements of a college course is subject to paying whatever fee the textbook company wants to charge. Copyright laws were designed to stimulate creativity, but in this case they mainly seem to be providing financial subsidies to publishing companies.

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