DRM for textbooks could be good for students

http://www.baeronline.com/2008/07/26/textbooks-next-to-try-drm-raises-prices-for-students-by-a-lot/

by imperialman3 • 18 years ago

2 3 18 years ago

baeronline.com

maxwell• 18 years ago

The headline isn't what the author concluded.

imperialman3• 18 years ago

Read down to the end of the article =)

If DRM is priced competitively to the cost of "renting" a used book, then DRM could work.

jm4• 18 years ago

The conclusion that DRM could be good is based on the assumption that a DRM'd textbook would be priced at $25 compared to $209.95. The same article that draws this conclusion says the current price for a DRM'd e-book version is $109.99. It's also worth mentioning that the title of the article is "Textbooks next to try DRM - raises prices for students by a lot!". What the heck is the author trying to say? The title and conclusion are polar opposites. Furthermore, the conclusion is based on completely made up information. This is simply ludicrous.

I suppose in some fantasy world where DRM is used to allow for per-semester rentals of textbooks at a drastically reduced price it would be a good thing, but we all need to understand this will never happen. The entire point of DRM as it's used now- and how the textbook publishers propose to use it- is to enforce old and broken business models, not to enable new ones. As markets change and as new technologies become available the value to price ratio of certain goods will fluctuate. A low value to price ratio promotes piracy. DRM is only a means to avoid adjusting to these changes.

DRM for textbooks could be good for students

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