Jeeze. When will e-textbook publishers stop hurting themselves and experiment more widely with no DRM, social DRM and other alternatives—including textbooks bundled with courses, thereby reducing the incentive for piracy?
What is especially infuriating about DRM for textbooks is that students would prefer to be able to read the same book on cellphones as on laptops. DRM’s inherent eBabel makes this harder.
Yes, some publishers can put books online without DRM and use timed, browser-based viewing. But then the student can’t keep the material for later reference. And even with precautions in place, nothing is copy-proof anyway. Not to mention the need for reliable WiFi connections.
For the latest account of textbook publishers’ obstinacy—would that they pay more attention to the music industry!— read Keith Regan’s piece in Mass Tech.
I know. Students are supposed to be more likely to pirate than the population at large. But I wonder if the publishers have truly investigated alternatives such as social DRM, along with other forms of watermarking.
The bright side: McGraw-Hill says E versions are available for 95 percent of the titles in its catalog.
