Quote:
Originally Posted by spellbanisher
I don't understand your point about health car professionals. What do you mean by "disinfect or liberate their books"?
I generally agree with your other points. One area where I don't have a problem with pirating is in developing countries. I posted this passage from a book called Bad Samaritans awhile back.
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People often refer to DRMed books as diseased or infected or infested. This is an analogy that I cannot see, diseases and infestations spread, infections get better or worse. DRM doesn't seem to do this. It is a nuisance I agree in many cases. My feeling is that they are feeling guilty about the act itself and attempting to glorify it which should just make me feel sorry but I get irritated. Was mostly referring to another analogy run amok.
I am pretty sure it is not that illegal to pirate books etc. in a lot of developing countries, although I don't think of Korea as being terribly poor. Perhaps I am wrong in that. Lots of poor people and exploitation, but compared to many countries not that badly off. Compared to Canada, the Koreans I know and those I have worked for and with tell me that Korea is better in most ways. The North American education system is seen as far superior by them only in the credentials it supplies and how they are recognized. This is all hearsay on my part.
As to pirating books being the only thing that allowed them to go to Cambridge. Hmmmm.... Cost of books VS cost of tuition. Which costs many times more. Doesn't quite hold up to scrutiny but I haven't read the book.
Personally I think that textbooks are an area with many thorny issues. Obviously the author wants to sell as many as possible. But a captive market is created where only certain editions of books will do, and these books are often updated in a pretty meaningless way as to actual content with the sole intent of the student having to buy a new copy. There are cases I have read about when the same book basically is used for several levels, and the student must buy it again at each level because of miniscule revisions.
The author should have a reasonable expectation of profit, but not at the cost of someone being forced to buy their book even once unless it is the only adequate one in existence.
Education in countries that have the resources should, IMO be provided free to those who have demonstrated abilities and work ethic. Or have those who cannot afford an education but are able to pass the entrance exams, pledge a small percentage of their future earnings. An Asian person once told me it is pretty easy to buy your way to a degree in North America and frankly I believe them.
Helen