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• The First Sale Doctrine and the Textbook Industry

  As the price of textbooks climbs, more students are purchasing used copies to help defray the cost. Textbooks are effectively disposable, so there will always be a strong supply of used textbooks. Until now, the textbook publishers have tried to preserve their profits by issue new editions (rendering the used copies obselete) and raising the price of new books to recoup costs, and we're left with a self-reinforced cycle ensuring continued price increases. The answer, Freeloader Press thinks, is in free, ad-supported textbooks . I've long complained at the inability to get digital copies of most of my 1,000 page legal textbooks. Given the option, I would even pay an additional $10-15 just to get a second copy in electonic form. Electronic distribution is inevitable, especially when dealing with expensive, disposable items like textbooks. It is better for the publisher, nearly eliminating printing and distribution costs. It is better for the student, who doesn't need to carry 5-pound books... Posted Aug 31 2006, 09:51 AM by Tim with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Technology, Intellectual Property, Copyright, Tablet PC, Innovation