Play, or pirate, before you pay
Joel Seibert
Issue date: 6/22/09 Section: Opinion
I often hear students gripe about how much their textbooks cost and how much they have to work to afford them. Some students have found ways of downloading their class's books, avoiding these high prices. By definition this is stealing. However, I contest that it is justified.
Information should not be limited to those who can afford it. Why should a student whose parents do not pay for their school supplies be at disadvantage to students who do have that support?
Even when illegally downloading a textbook, the student will still have a harder time, as eBooks are not as portable and easy to use as a regular book, which are much easier on the eyes and easier to navigate than scrolling through pages on a computer.
I have also found that it is sometimes easier to find reference books for projects by illegally downloading them. In this case, it is like using the Internet as your library. If my library had the almost infinite amount of books that the Internet has, I would be more than happy to go borrow them. But since it is practically impossible for a library to have all the resources of the Internet, it is sometimes easier to find information by downloading it.
The "try before you buy" argument may not work on textbooks, as you would have bought it immediately if you were planning on buying it at all. On software and games however, I believe that the argument for being able to try before you buy is stronger than with music and movies. It seems reasonable that I should be able to play a little before deciding if I want to buy it or not.
There is some software which is one-time use, such as language learning software like Rosetta Stone. These products are usually not something you would try before you buy for the same reason as textbooks. However, it is illegal to buy or sell used copies of these products. One level of Rosetta Stone is over $200, but when you are done with that level, then what? If you cannot sell it and have either moved on the next level or have mastered all that level has to teach, then all it is good for is as a paper weight.
If you could resell these products, I would be arguing against piracy; however hundreds of dollars is a bit much for a one-time use product that I cannot even get cheaper by buying used.
Information should not be limited to those who can afford it. Why should a student whose parents do not pay for their school supplies be at disadvantage to students who do have that support?
Even when illegally downloading a textbook, the student will still have a harder time, as eBooks are not as portable and easy to use as a regular book, which are much easier on the eyes and easier to navigate than scrolling through pages on a computer.
I have also found that it is sometimes easier to find reference books for projects by illegally downloading them. In this case, it is like using the Internet as your library. If my library had the almost infinite amount of books that the Internet has, I would be more than happy to go borrow them. But since it is practically impossible for a library to have all the resources of the Internet, it is sometimes easier to find information by downloading it.
The "try before you buy" argument may not work on textbooks, as you would have bought it immediately if you were planning on buying it at all. On software and games however, I believe that the argument for being able to try before you buy is stronger than with music and movies. It seems reasonable that I should be able to play a little before deciding if I want to buy it or not.
There is some software which is one-time use, such as language learning software like Rosetta Stone. These products are usually not something you would try before you buy for the same reason as textbooks. However, it is illegal to buy or sell used copies of these products. One level of Rosetta Stone is over $200, but when you are done with that level, then what? If you cannot sell it and have either moved on the next level or have mastered all that level has to teach, then all it is good for is as a paper weight.
If you could resell these products, I would be arguing against piracy; however hundreds of dollars is a bit much for a one-time use product that I cannot even get cheaper by buying used.
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