For several years now I have been flippantly suggesting that we need the same level or type of pirating of e-texts as there was with music in order to have a significant change to the publishing industry. Many music labels and executives would disagree with me when I suggest that the pirating of music was one of the best things that happened to the music industry because it fundamentally changed the business and has given the consumer so many more options.
The textbook publishers should be concerned–very concerned about what will ultimately happen to their business. If you look at their current model, they along with journal publishers are unnecessary. The academics that are responsible for the content in these texts no longer need the organizational and distribution resources of the publishers–this can easily be done through the internet through Open Education Resources (OER) like Connexions or Open Textbook publishers like Flatworld Knowledge. Or better still professors can point to a wide assortment of free resources that redially available through other Open Access initiatives.
While I officially do not condone nor encourage pirating I have to admit that I silently applaud these brave individuals and groups who are willing to risk criminal prosecution to “free information” which we all know should be made available to everyone.
