Is it illegal to buy a textbook, make copies from it and then return the textbook to a store for money back?
Eden asked:
This is a technique I have been using in many of my college classes and I’m wondering if this is okay to do. I don’t give the papers out to anyone else, I just read them and then throw them away when I’m done.
In my defense, I’m a poor college student that can’t afford to pay $150 for each of my seven textbooks…and I really don’t support huge bookstores like Barnes and Noble that buy a textbook back for $15 and then go sell it for $100. I would never do this to a small bookstore that is selling books in an honest fashion.
This entry was posted
on Monday, August 31st, 2009 at 12:00 am and is filed under Other - Education.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
This is a technique I have been using in many of my college classes and I’m wondering if this is okay to do. I don’t give the papers out to anyone else, I just read them and then throw them away when I’m done.
In my defense, I’m a poor college student that can’t afford to pay $150 for each of my seven textbooks…and I really don’t support huge bookstores like Barnes and Noble that buy a textbook back for $15 and then go sell it for $100. I would never do this to a small bookstore that is selling books in an honest fashion.
September 2nd, 2009 at 4:33 am
yes copyright laws ban this and its damn cheeky!why not just borrow the book from the library?
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:56 am
I’m pretty sure it is.
September 4th, 2009 at 6:33 am
uhmmm making a copy of a textbook as long as it for individual use may be considerable but! returning the textbook to a store for a money back is just so unfair and inexcusable.
September 8th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
It’s not illegal to make copies. Keep doing it - it saves a bundle!!! Even if you don’t get the full price back, you get something.
September 9th, 2009 at 4:20 am
Isn’t it almost the same price to make all those copies?
September 11th, 2009 at 12:21 am
I think it is, but plenty of people do it. College textbooks cost way too much.
September 13th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
It’s unethical also.
September 14th, 2009 at 4:54 am
Your question is whether it is legal. I think you know the answer. It is not legal. The books are copyrighted. So, think outside the box. Try to see if the book is on line or use the library at college. Some schools have a copy policy. Ask. Combine in the purchase with other students. Find a student that had the class the year before, but who wants to keep the book in his/her ongoing library. Ask to borrow or even rent it on a per day basis.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:42 am
No it is not illegal to buy a textbook and then make copies. I call that money management and keep up the good work. Look at it this way, its better than tearing out the pages you need or wasting that money on a book that probably won’t be used next semester.
Good Luck with school.
Tosha W
September 16th, 2009 at 12:17 am
Technically yes it is.
I also did this in college however with some of my books (not all). Many of my friends did this as well.
While it is illegal — it’s also horrible to run up ridiculous prices on books to $200+ for books that they are created for the sole purpose of being college textbooks, fully knowing that these students will only use these books for roughly less than 6 months.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
It’s illegal and unethical. Why not connect with older students who may know people in the classes you intend to take. Purchase used books directly from students. You save them a trip and the wait in line. You get a decent book for the right price. Unless your steling the photcopying, you do have some expense in your stealing scheme. So, spend the money in an honest way.