Danish Students Face Legal Action and Fines over Textbook Piracy
2 days ago
- #education
- #copyright
- #piracy
- Online piracy extends beyond entertainment to include educational content, such as textbooks.
- Textbook piracy has been prevalent for decades, with dedicated torrent sites existing for years.
- In Denmark, the Rights Alliance has targeted individuals profiting from pirated textbooks, leading to convictions.
- Despite legal actions, 57% of students using digital textbooks have acquired at least one illegally.
- 74% of students believe sharing textbooks illegally is acceptable, despite knowing it's against the law.
- The Rights Alliance plans to sue students pirating textbooks to enforce cultural change, not seeking financial settlements.
- Fines for illegal sharing could reach several thousand Danish kroner, depending on the extent of sharing.
- The anti-piracy group adopts a zero-tolerance policy, with even a single illegal share warranting legal action.
- Publishers warn that unchecked piracy could eliminate the market for Danish textbooks, affecting educational institutions.
- 37% of students received pirated textbooks from teachers or professors via official study intranets.