The case against a female nursing student from VIA University College in Aarhus has ended with a fine for offering and selling illegal digital copies of 47 different textbooks via Facebook.
A fine of DKK 5.000 and a confiscation of DKK 1.830. This is how the case against a nursing student from VIA University College in Aarhus has ended. The student had been reported for illegally offering and selling no less than 47 different digital textbooks, the majority of which were scanned physical textbooks. In addition, some of the files were I-books, while seven of the files were NOTA editions, which are digital books reserved for students with reading disabilities.
In autumn of 2020, the Danish Rights Alliance reported the student to the State Prosecutor for Serious Economic and International Crime after gathering evidence of the sale of illegal digital copies of textbooks without the rights holders’ consent. The transactions took place in a Facebook group dedicated to the purchase and sale of books for nursing students.
Illegal sharing on Facebook
This case is an example of the major challenges inherent in the illegal sharing and sale of textbooks through social media such as Facebook. Despite a major effort in the field from the Danish Rights Alliance, a study by Epinion shows that almost half of all students who use digital textbooks on their respective programs have acquired at least one textbook illegally. Furthermore, the study shows that the illegal sharing often takes place in the immediate environment, where especially Facebook groups and Messenger are channels that are often used for this.
The Danish Rights Alliance, in both their investigation and specific information initiatives, has a strong focus on the illegal sale and sharing of digital textbooks on Facebook.
The director of the Danish Rights Alliance, Maria Fredenslund, says:
“Our investigations show that social sharing platforms such as Facebook are a main channel for not only the illegal sale of digital textbooks through various groups and pages, but also sharing as a friendly service between fellow students. That is why we are present on Facebook, where we investigate and report the illegal sharing, just as we have targeted information initiatives for this type of platform. Although it may seem innocent to copy a study book and sell it to other students, systematically infringing copyright has serious consequences.”
Illegal sale of textbooks has consequences
This case show that there are consequences when you illegally sell and share digital textbooks. This case ended with a fine and confiscation, but it could end much worse. In the autumn of 2021, a 28-year-old man was given 30 days suspended sentence, confiscation of earnings and damage claim for the systematic illegal sale of digital textbooks. Another female student for VIA University College also received a similar sentence back in autumn 2021.
The illegal sale of digital textbooks can potentially have consequences not only for authors, publishers and educational institutions, but in particular also for those who choose to sell and share illegal digital copies.
Learn more about the rules for using digital textbooks at Os Der Elsker Viden (in Danish).