Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Textbooks With EULAs

Posted by timothy on from the oh-boy dept.

overshoot writes "We all knew it was coming, didn't we? Now Princeton University and nine others are introducing DRM'd textbooks. For a 33% discount, students get a 5-month node-locked e-book instead of all that glossy paper. Maybe Congress should just get it over with and change the law to allow EULAs on printed works?"

7 of 743 comments (clear)

  1. Stallman was right up to this point ... by DoktorTomoe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The Right to Read

    --
    Screw the FSM - Real geeks believe in the Invisible Pink Unicorn
    1. Re:Stallman was right up to this point ... by Ironsides · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Part of the problem is that, in the US, a lot of professors make serious cash by writing a textbook, producing a "new, improved version" every year (actually the old version with the questions rearranged a bit) and standardising on it for their course. This approach even locks out old versions of the textbook, let alone competing "open" textbooks.

      The UK seems not to have this problem. This is one of the (comparatively few) areas where the USA would benefit from taking our lead.

      Actually, there are many proffessors in the USA who will stick with one book and keep requiring the exact same version (saves on having to re-write course notes and such). This was in the Engineering courses, though.

      From experience, it has been the freshmen level "101" courses that this occurs in (chem 101, bio 101, phy 101) and some various writing courses. I did not come across any upper level engineering courses where the books changed all that often. In one case, a professor was going back to an older version because she like it better.

      So, it's not all the courses that have this, just the ones where the used market gets flooded every year. You know, those classes that everybody has to take where you're probably not ever going to use the books again unless you are majoring in the subject.

      --
      Fly me to the moon Let me sing among those stars Let me see what spring is like On jupiter and mars
  2. So much for selling used books by jbeaupre · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Selling old books was a nice source of cash for me at the end of each semester. Buying used books at the start saved a lot too. I'm not sure a 33% discount will be enough.

    --
    The world is made by those who show up for the job.
  3. Frist Post? And What a DUMB idea by Tsu+Dho+Nimh · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Paying 2/3 retail for a book you can't mark in, underline, or ceremonially BURN after the class is over?

  4. Re:Five months? by Freexe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sounds to me like a really well thought out idea.

    1. Arrive at uni and buy E-books (profit)
    2. Months in the course starts
    3. Books 'run-out'
    4. Re-buy book. (profit)
    5. Course finishs
    6. Book run-out again
    7. Exam timetables come through
    8. Start revising
    9. have to buy books again (profit)

    a bit of a change to the normal list, but 3 times the profit!

    --
    "In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
  5. Re:Ah, the joys of copy-protection... by TripMaster+Monkey · · Score: 5, Insightful


    I believe this is the case youre referring to.

    And yes, ebooks have been cracked, and will be again. Particularly when you foist them upon a young, rebellious, smarter than average, and technologically savvy demographic group.

    This bright idea is doomed to failure, and I for one am going to enjoy watching it go down in flames.

    --
    ____

    ~ |rip/\/\aster /\/\onkey

  6. Re:Five months? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 5, Insightful
    your plan is no different than a student who currently:
    ...
    holds up liquor store

    Except that the punishment for holding up a liquor store is probably less than that for violating a cheesy DRM scheme. And chances of getting parole are probably better too!