Simply put, tags are keywords used to identify an idea. Just click on one of the tags below to find like-minded ideas.

• General Advice (2) Give advice

  Advice given by Imago 

  03.06.08 | 07:14 PM

  Hi again:
  
  Was thinking that my response to you sounded rather harsh. Sorry about that, but your idea definitely hit a hot button for me!
  
  But, to clarify -- being a nonprofit won't clear you from copyright legalities, and the educational publishing companies would, in all likelihood, come after you with a vengeance. Trust me, they're on the alert for someone doing something like this, as it could destroy their companies, taking out all of the people who work for them in editing, design, production, sales and marketing, etc. as well as authors. It takes months if not years to put a text book (or any book, for that matter) together, and that's just on the production end -- this doesn't count the years that writers have invested gaining mastery of their subjects.
  
  To turn it around, how would it feel if you spent thousands of hours and dollars making something and someone decided to make multiple copies of it and give it away because they thought it was too expensive? Especially if that's what made you the money to put your own kids through college,…more or pay the mortgage, etc.
  
  So -- here's another idea for you. While duplicating copyrighted material isn't legal, it certainly is legal to resell used books. Why not think about some sort of student-run co-op so you could sell each other books? I know that from my undergraduate days, even the book stores that sold used books still asked pretty high prices for them.
  
  There's a great book gift site called bookmooch.com that you could model this after.
  
  Or, as another thought, how about starting a nonprofit that lobbies to educational publishers to move towards electronic publishing with licensing fees, etc. The cost of individual books could be smaller without the costs incurred by creating print versions.
  
  Or, as a third thought, how about creating a lobbying effort that pushes back at the feds about providing better support for college students across the board -- it's not just books that are expensive, but tuition as well (and most learning institutions aren't making big dollars either!) -- what would happen if college students got organized nationally about demanding better rates on student loans, more tuition support, etc? Or an expansion of some of the programs that grant student loan repayment relief in exchange for work in the community? (Some, for example, will take great hunks off for public school teachers.)
  
  And, lastly, if you can bear me waving my finger at you any longer, please remember that your education is an investment in your life. Say your English textbook costs 60 bucks -- how often do you blow 60 bucks on a new pair of shoes or a coolo new phone or something equally fun? Is that a better use of that money than your education?
  
  I had a neighbor once who got mad at me because people got, as she said, "all impressed because you have a Ph.D. If I'd had the money, I would have gotten an education." (I had gotten a job she wanted.) She said this to me as she was sitting in her brand new $45,000 SUV while I sat in my 12 year old car. She spent on her car what I'd spent on my graduate education. (Before books, by the way!) Life is about choices, and how you choose to use your resources.
  
  Okay...am done sermonizing! :-)
  
  
  
  
  

  This is helpful advice

  You found this helpful

  0

  Report Abuse

  Are you sure you want to report as abuse?
  Yes No

  Advice given by migdalah 

  02.25.08 | 12:35 PM

  They've got to make a 'living' too! (yeah, right!) ... at worst, maybe you can negotiate a deal with them that THEY themselved can come up with better than yours to help students out - CHALLENGE THEM IF THEY DO: "Negative audience from writers" ... 'just a thought. Hey, visit me too and give me your ideas and help ;) .

  This is helpful advice

  You found this helpful

  0

  Report Abuse

  Are you sure you want to report as abuse?
  Yes No

• Q1: 1. Negative audience from writers 2. Writers against a super book database 3. Dislike from college students (1) Respond

  Cancel

  Advice given by Imago 

  03.06.08 | 06:17 PM

  While I appreciate the high cost of text books, this idea will violate copyright laws, and those laws exist for a reason. I am both a writer and publisher, and have spent thousands of hours working on the products that you would essentially steal. Trust me, while I know you're feeling a bit like Robin Hood (stealing from the rich to give to the poor), the average publishing company and authors are not making big bucks. Even the major educational publishers, while they are large companies, are struggling these days. And even if they were raking in the cash, however, theft is theft -- this is intellectual property you're stealing, someone else's hard work.

  This is helpful advice

  You found this helpful

  0

  Report Abuse

  Are you sure you want to report as abuse?
  Yes No