Pirated DVD threatens AOM textbook industry

[Guest guest]

(Headline article in the current issue of Acupuncture Today)

 

Apparently the AOM publishers are suddenly experiencing catastrophic

drops in textbook sales, although TCM school enrollments are up, due

to circulation of DVD containing some 162 books both TCM and

Western medical. Affection Redwing, Blue Poppy Press, etc. They've

called in the FBI and asked the schools to do something about it too.

The schools too are getting stuck with unsold inventories of textbooks.

--

Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.29/673 - Release 2/6/2007 5:52

PM

[Guest guest]

Yeh, i heard about it from Bob Felt. Apparently, organised crime are

involved that's why they've called in the FBI. Not good.

 

It's quite common in Asian countries such as China and Korea for

photocopy shops on actual University grounds to photocopy books for

students, but not put them on DVD. Although, they might do it in the

future. You can also get photocopy shops in China to type out large

sections of books into Word.

 

Regards

 

Attilio

www.chinesemedicinetimes.com

 

Chinese Medicine ,

< wrote:

>

> (Headline article in the current issue of Acupuncture Today)

>

> Apparently the AOM publishers are suddenly experiencing

catastrophic

> drops in textbook sales, although TCM school enrollments are up,

due

> to circulation of DVD containing some 162 books both TCM and

> Western medical. Affection Redwing, Blue Poppy Press, etc. They've

> called in the FBI and asked the schools to do something about it

too.

> The schools too are getting stuck with unsold inventories of

textbooks.

>

>

>

>

> --

>

>

> Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.29/673 - Release Date:

2/6/2007 5:52 PM

>

[Guest guest]

There was a letter circulated to all the CM schools requesting they look out for

those that

may have it.

 

Unfortunately the reaction to the problem that is being taken is a Western

Medicine

approach, attack the symptom not the root.

 

One thing is being overlooked are those scanning for personal use that is legal

and ethical

and an indication of real needs not being met by the publishers. I have

personally sent e-

mails to Blue Poppy and Eastland Press stating that I would happily purchase in

addition to

the books I already own electronic copies of some of those works. I received

response only

from Eastland (that actually has out Deadman on CD which I own) stating that

they are

considering it but do not currently offer it. Which means many hours behind a

scanner for

crucial books needed on the go by any one interested. It is ridiculous to think

they are not

available for sale in electronic format (things like MM, FS, and the Practical

Dictionary) in

this day and age.

 

That starts to form a picture of where things are going wrong, I personally know

of many

students who are responsible in not distributing copies of texts they scan, but

are

scanning for personal use since it is not realistic in our day an age to expect

people to not

use the available tech to succeed and long term provide better care to the

patients. On the

other hand that also opens the door for those lacking ethics of protecting other

people's

works.

 

The root problem can either be a pattern of vacuous student/practioner money,

vacuous

ethics or a dual vacuity.

 

The etiology is a combination of extremely high costs for required information

to help

patients or achieve in school and a lack of ethics concerning the distributing

of copy right

materials to others.

 

I am working to send a proposal to Bob Felts on a win/win solution for consumers

and the

industry that would make electronic texts available for less money to students

and

practitioners (think rental) and increase volume of sales while decreasing

piracy.

 

I'll try and share that proposal here once I have sent it out. This thread

reminded me to go

back and finish the proposal.

 

The software book publishers solved this issue many years ago and the engineers

in that

industry and the publishers have enjoyed the win/win, I see no reason CM

publishers and

practitioners can't win at that game too.

 

David Botton

 

 

 

 

Chinese Medicine , <

wrote:

>

> (Headline article in the current issue of Acupuncture Today)

>

> Apparently the AOM publishers are suddenly experiencing catastrophic

> drops in textbook sales, although TCM school enrollments are up, due

> to circulation of DVD containing some 162 books both TCM and

> Western medical. Affection Redwing, Blue Poppy Press, etc. They've

> called in the FBI and asked the schools to do something about it too.

> The schools too are getting stuck with unsold inventories of textbooks.

>

>

>

>

> --

>

>

> Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.29/673 - Release 2/6/2007 5:52

PM

>

[Guest guest]

David,

 

Are you saying that the technology exists to prevent ebooks from

being copied? I have heard from others that it is possible to make

pirate copies of the A Manual of Acupuncture CD Rom.

 

Attilio

www.chinesemedicinetimes.com

 

Chinese Medicine , " David Botton "

<david wrote:

>

> There was a letter circulated to all the CM schools requesting they

look out for those that

> may have it.

>

> Unfortunately the reaction to the problem that is being taken is a

Western Medicine

> approach, attack the symptom not the root.

>

> One thing is being overlooked are those scanning for personal use

that is legal and ethical

> and an indication of real needs not being met by the publishers. I

have personally sent e-

> mails to Blue Poppy and Eastland Press stating that I would happily

purchase in addition to

> the books I already own electronic copies of some of those works. I

received response only

> from Eastland (that actually has out Deadman on CD which I own)

stating that they are

> considering it but do not currently offer it. Which means many

hours behind a scanner for

> crucial books needed on the go by any one interested. It is

ridiculous to think they are not

> available for sale in electronic format (things like MM, FS, and

the Practical Dictionary) in

> this day and age.

>

> That starts to form a picture of where things are going wrong, I

personally know of many

> students who are responsible in not distributing copies of texts

they scan, but are

> scanning for personal use since it is not realistic in our day an

age to expect people to not

> use the available tech to succeed and long term provide better care

to the patients. On the

> other hand that also opens the door for those lacking ethics of

protecting other people's

> works.

>

> The root problem can either be a pattern of vacuous

student/practioner money, vacuous

> ethics or a dual vacuity.

>

> The etiology is a combination of extremely high costs for required

information to help

> patients or achieve in school and a lack of ethics concerning the

distributing of copy right

> materials to others.

>

> I am working to send a proposal to Bob Felts on a win/win solution

for consumers and the

> industry that would make electronic texts available for less money

to students and

> practitioners (think rental) and increase volume of sales while

decreasing piracy.

>

> I'll try and share that proposal here once I have sent it out. This

thread reminded me to go

> back and finish the proposal.

>

> The software book publishers solved this issue many years ago and

the engineers in that

> industry and the publishers have enjoyed the win/win, I see no

reason CM publishers and

> practitioners can't win at that game too.

>

> David Botton

>

>

>

>

> Chinese Medicine ,

<@> wrote:

> >

> > (Headline article in the current issue of Acupuncture Today)

> >

> > Apparently the AOM publishers are suddenly experiencing

catastrophic

> > drops in textbook sales, although TCM school enrollments are up,

due

> > to circulation of DVD containing some 162 books both TCM and

> > Western medical. Affection Redwing, Blue Poppy Press, etc.

They've

> > called in the FBI and asked the schools to do something about it

too.

> > The schools too are getting stuck with unsold inventories of

textbooks.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> >

> >

> > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.29/673 - Release Date:

2/6/2007 5:52 PM

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi David and Attilio,

This is bad news for all of us, but like David says, there are solutions.

 

For one, really simply, as David says, provide quality e-books for major

texts at student prices;

make deals with the school, who can help enforce the sale of these required

texts

(not as police, but just add it to the registration fee in the beginning of

the quarter/trimester)

Schools already do this for herb sample kits.

For instance, first year texts: Maciocia silver, CAM, Deadman etc.

Put all of this on a few CDs ( copy-protect it ) and charge $300 etc for the

required text CDs.

There's a business opportunity for some people who want to transcribe the

books into e-format for the publishing houses (it's probably already on Word

or Adobe format).

 

Deadman as of now, is not copy-protected, nor is Maciocia gold.

Ask the guys at www.qpuncture.com how they copy-protect their CD-rom.

These guys are Korean soft-ware designer acupuncturists who knew the risk of

sending out sought-after e-material to starving acupuncture students.

Believe me, I tried to copy this CD-rom for myself (a second copy as a

back-up for the one that I purchased).

Couldn't do it.

 

Secondly, the schools need to purchase more of these hard-copy texts for

their library.

Since ACTCM's library is so extensive, most people don't feel the need to do

any non-legitimate copying.

Usually, for the major texts, there are at least 2 books on hand on the

check-out shelf and one on reference.

Otherwise, the 2 week checkout period allows for thousands of hard-copy

books to circulate freely.

Of course, most schools need more money to get this going.

Maybe schools can lease (buy to own) essential books from Eastland and Blue

Poppy while they're getting tuition money to pay for rent, teachers and the

kind.

 

So, for those who don't like to read a computer screen, there's always the

old fashioned paper and black ink.

Good luck.

k.

 

 

On 2/7/07, <attiliodalberto wrote:

>

> David,

>

> Are you saying that the technology exists to prevent ebooks from

> being copied? I have heard from others that it is possible to make

> pirate copies of the A Manual of Acupuncture CD Rom.

>

> Attilio

> www.chinesemedicinetimes.com

>

> --- In

Chinese Medicine <Chinese Medicine%40yaho\

ogroups.com>,

> " David Botton "

>

> <david wrote:

> >

> > There was a letter circulated to all the CM schools requesting they

> look out for those that

> > may have it.

> >

> > Unfortunately the reaction to the problem that is being taken is a

> Western Medicine

> > approach, attack the symptom not the root.

> >

> > One thing is being overlooked are those scanning for personal use

> that is legal and ethical

> > and an indication of real needs not being met by the publishers. I

> have personally sent e-

> > mails to Blue Poppy and Eastland Press stating that I would happily

> purchase in addition to

> > the books I already own electronic copies of some of those works. I

> received response only

> > from Eastland (that actually has out Deadman on CD which I own)

> stating that they are

> > considering it but do not currently offer it. Which means many

> hours behind a scanner for

> > crucial books needed on the go by any one interested. It is

> ridiculous to think they are not

> > available for sale in electronic format (things like MM, FS, and

> the Practical Dictionary) in

> > this day and age.

> >

> > That starts to form a picture of where things are going wrong, I

> personally know of many

> > students who are responsible in not distributing copies of texts

> they scan, but are

> > scanning for personal use since it is not realistic in our day an

> age to expect people to not

> > use the available tech to succeed and long term provide better care

> to the patients. On the

> > other hand that also opens the door for those lacking ethics of

> protecting other people's

> > works.

> >

> > The root problem can either be a pattern of vacuous

> student/practioner money, vacuous

> > ethics or a dual vacuity.

> >

> > The etiology is a combination of extremely high costs for required

> information to help

> > patients or achieve in school and a lack of ethics concerning the

> distributing of copy right

> > materials to others.

> >

> > I am working to send a proposal to Bob Felts on a win/win solution

> for consumers and the

> > industry that would make electronic texts available for less money

> to students and

> > practitioners (think rental) and increase volume of sales while

> decreasing piracy.

> >

> > I'll try and share that proposal here once I have sent it out. This

> thread reminded me to go

> > back and finish the proposal.

> >

> > The software book publishers solved this issue many years ago and

> the engineers in that

> > industry and the publishers have enjoyed the win/win, I see no

> reason CM publishers and

> > practitioners can't win at that game too.

> >

> > David Botton

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > --- In

Chinese Medicine <Chinese Medicine%40yaho\

ogroups.com>,

>

> <@> wrote:

> > >

> > > (Headline article in the current issue of Acupuncture Today)

> > >

> > > Apparently the AOM publishers are suddenly experiencing

> catastrophic

> > > drops in textbook sales, although TCM school enrollments are up,

> due

> > > to circulation of DVD containing some 162 books both TCM and

> > > Western medical. Affection Redwing, Blue Poppy Press, etc.

> They've

> > > called in the FBI and asked the schools to do something about it

> too.

> > > The schools too are getting stuck with unsold inventories of

> textbooks.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > --

> > >

> > >

> > > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.29/673 - Release Date:

> 2/6/2007 5:52 PM

> > >

> >

>

>

>

--

'Freedom from the desire for an answer is essential to the understanding of

a problem.'

Jiddu Krishnamurti

[Guest guest]

Yes there is such technology and it is very easy to implement so there is no

real excuse.

 

Truth be told, the real solution is find solutions that make piracy not worth it

instead, but

it takes time to re-educate both the publishers that are used to " control " and

the public.

 

Yes, the Deadman CD is easily copied, but that is a good example. In my school

many

people purchased it and I know of not one single person that gave copies to

others despite

its high price. At the same time many purchased it since they were able to put

it on their

portable devices and other places that it would never be possible had they used

copy

protection.

 

 

David Botton

 

 

Chinese Medicine , " "

<attiliodalberto wrote:

>

> David,

>

> Are you saying that the technology exists to prevent ebooks from

> being copied? I have heard from others that it is possible to make

> pirate copies of the A Manual of Acupuncture CD Rom.

>

> Attilio

> www.chinesemedicinetimes.com

>

> Chinese Medicine , " David Botton "

> <david@> wrote:

> >

> > There was a letter circulated to all the CM schools requesting they

> look out for those that

> > may have it.

> >

> > Unfortunately the reaction to the problem that is being taken is a

> Western Medicine

> > approach, attack the symptom not the root.

> >

> > One thing is being overlooked are those scanning for personal use

> that is legal and ethical

> > and an indication of real needs not being met by the publishers. I

> have personally sent e-

> > mails to Blue Poppy and Eastland Press stating that I would happily

> purchase in addition to

> > the books I already own electronic copies of some of those works. I

> received response only

> > from Eastland (that actually has out Deadman on CD which I own)

> stating that they are

> > considering it but do not currently offer it. Which means many

> hours behind a scanner for

> > crucial books needed on the go by any one interested. It is

> ridiculous to think they are not

> > available for sale in electronic format (things like MM, FS, and

> the Practical Dictionary) in

> > this day and age.

> >

> > That starts to form a picture of where things are going wrong, I

> personally know of many

> > students who are responsible in not distributing copies of texts

> they scan, but are

> > scanning for personal use since it is not realistic in our day an

> age to expect people to not

> > use the available tech to succeed and long term provide better care

> to the patients. On the

> > other hand that also opens the door for those lacking ethics of

> protecting other people's

> > works.

> >

> > The root problem can either be a pattern of vacuous

> student/practioner money, vacuous

> > ethics or a dual vacuity.

> >

> > The etiology is a combination of extremely high costs for required

> information to help

> > patients or achieve in school and a lack of ethics concerning the

> distributing of copy right

> > materials to others.

> >

> > I am working to send a proposal to Bob Felts on a win/win solution

> for consumers and the

> > industry that would make electronic texts available for less money

> to students and

> > practitioners (think rental) and increase volume of sales while

> decreasing piracy.

> >

> > I'll try and share that proposal here once I have sent it out. This

> thread reminded me to go

> > back and finish the proposal.

> >

> > The software book publishers solved this issue many years ago and

> the engineers in that

> > industry and the publishers have enjoyed the win/win, I see no

> reason CM publishers and

> > practitioners can't win at that game too.

> >

> > David Botton

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Chinese Medicine ,

> <@> wrote:

> > >

> > > (Headline article in the current issue of Acupuncture Today)

> > >

> > > Apparently the AOM publishers are suddenly experiencing

> catastrophic

> > > drops in textbook sales, although TCM school enrollments are up,

> due

> > > to circulation of DVD containing some 162 books both TCM and

> > > Western medical. Affection Redwing, Blue Poppy Press, etc.

> They've

> > > called in the FBI and asked the schools to do something about it

> too.

> > > The schools too are getting stuck with unsold inventories of

> textbooks.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > --

> > >

> > >

> > > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.29/673 - Release Date:

> 2/6/2007 5:52 PM

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Could you give me more details of the technology please.

 

Attilio

www.chinesemedicinetimes.com

 

Chinese Medicine , " David Botton "

<david wrote:

>

> Yes there is such technology and it is very easy to implement so

there is no real excuse.

>

> Truth be told, the real solution is find solutions that make piracy

not worth it instead, but

> it takes time to re-educate both the publishers that are used

to " control " and the public.

>

> Yes, the Deadman CD is easily copied, but that is a good example.

In my school many

> people purchased it and I know of not one single person that gave

copies to others despite

> its high price. At the same time many purchased it since they were

able to put it on their

> portable devices and other places that it would never be possible

had they used copy

> protection.

>

>

> David Botton

>

>

> Chinese Medicine , " Attilio

DAlberto "

> <attiliodalberto@> wrote:

> >

> > David,

> >

> > Are you saying that the technology exists to prevent ebooks from

> > being copied? I have heard from others that it is possible to

make

> > pirate copies of the A Manual of Acupuncture CD Rom.

> >

> > Attilio

> > www.chinesemedicinetimes.com

> >

> > Chinese Medicine , " David

Botton "

> > <david@> wrote:

> > >

> > > There was a letter circulated to all the CM schools requesting

they

> > look out for those that

> > > may have it.

> > >

> > > Unfortunately the reaction to the problem that is being taken

is a

> > Western Medicine

> > > approach, attack the symptom not the root.

> > >

> > > One thing is being overlooked are those scanning for personal

use

> > that is legal and ethical

> > > and an indication of real needs not being met by the

publishers. I

> > have personally sent e-

> > > mails to Blue Poppy and Eastland Press stating that I would

happily

> > purchase in addition to

> > > the books I already own electronic copies of some of those

works. I

> > received response only

> > > from Eastland (that actually has out Deadman on CD which I own)

> > stating that they are

> > > considering it but do not currently offer it. Which means many

> > hours behind a scanner for

> > > crucial books needed on the go by any one interested. It is

> > ridiculous to think they are not

> > > available for sale in electronic format (things like MM, FS,

and

> > the Practical Dictionary) in

> > > this day and age.

> > >

> > > That starts to form a picture of where things are going wrong,

I

> > personally know of many

> > > students who are responsible in not distributing copies of

texts

> > they scan, but are

> > > scanning for personal use since it is not realistic in our day

an

> > age to expect people to not

> > > use the available tech to succeed and long term provide better

care

> > to the patients. On the

> > > other hand that also opens the door for those lacking ethics of

> > protecting other people's

> > > works.

> > >

> > > The root problem can either be a pattern of vacuous

> > student/practioner money, vacuous

> > > ethics or a dual vacuity.

> > >

> > > The etiology is a combination of extremely high costs for

required

> > information to help

> > > patients or achieve in school and a lack of ethics concerning

the

> > distributing of copy right

> > > materials to others.

> > >

> > > I am working to send a proposal to Bob Felts on a win/win

solution

> > for consumers and the

> > > industry that would make electronic texts available for less

money

> > to students and

> > > practitioners (think rental) and increase volume of sales while

> > decreasing piracy.

> > >

> > > I'll try and share that proposal here once I have sent it out.

This

> > thread reminded me to go

> > > back and finish the proposal.

> > >

> > > The software book publishers solved this issue many years ago

and

> > the engineers in that

> > > industry and the publishers have enjoyed the win/win, I see no

> > reason CM publishers and

> > > practitioners can't win at that game too.

> > >

> > > David Botton

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > Chinese Medicine , Chris

Macie

> > <@> wrote:

> > > >

> > > > (Headline article in the current issue of Acupuncture Today)

> > > >

> > > > Apparently the AOM publishers are suddenly experiencing

> > catastrophic

> > > > drops in textbook sales, although TCM school enrollments are

up,

> > due

> > > > to circulation of DVD containing some 162 books both TCM

and

> > > > Western medical. Affection Redwing, Blue Poppy Press, etc.

> > They've

> > > > called in the FBI and asked the schools to do something about

it

> > too.

> > > > The schools too are getting stuck with unsold inventories of

> > textbooks.

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > --

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.17.29/673 - Release

Date:

> > 2/6/2007 5:52 PM

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Here is one example:

 

http://www.adobe.com/epaper/ebooks/

 

This could be used for DRM based sale and rental of books.

 

This is not the ultimate solution though, that is for them to make electronic

versions

available for reasonable prices over print and in packaged deals. It is really

difficult to

justify for example why the Deadman CD is priced as high as it is, if it was

priced correctly

(under $40) it would sell light hot cakes and many would still buy the book as

well.

 

David Botton

 

 

Chinese Medicine , " "

<attiliodalberto wrote:

>

> Could you give me more details of the technology please.

>

> Attilio

> www.chinesemedicinetimes.com

>

[Guest guest]

David, I agree that the Cds should be priced lower,

because even at a lower pricetag, the publishing house's profit margin could

be larger,

due to the fact that it costs less to reproduce (copying vs printing) and

costs less to store, package and ship from the printers to the warehouse to

the retailers.

At less than 50 cents/ CD + minimal shipping fees, many of these bulky books

could be sold for

half the price of the printed texts.

 

Also, going back to making schools the main arteries for distribution,

there should be all of these e-texts available at student discount prices as

package deals,

before the first class begins.

You go in to register and choose the option if you want to get the

discounted e-texts

that include all of the CA/ national state board books on copy-protected

CDs;

money which goes back to the publishers and authors.

Then, you decide to buy the hard-copy texts or not.

Most people will still decide to buy regular books, especially of

non-reference type info,

because most of us can't stand reading words printed on back-lighted screens

for hours at a time.

 

On the issue of copy-protection and having copies for palm-pilots

....qpuncture also provides palm pilot software.

The Merck manual and some other texts are also sold under palm pilot text

downloads/ transfers.

For reference texts such as the Manual of Acupuncture by Deadman et al.,

this should also be available by sale for palm-pilots via download.

http://www.qpuncture.com/shop/view_sub.php?in_menu=E

 

Maybe Eastland/ Blue Poppy is listening.

Can David and I get some royalties?

k.

 

On 2/7/07, David Botton <david wrote:

>

> Here is one example:

>

> http://www.adobe.com/epaper/ebooks/

>

> This could be used for DRM based sale and rental of books.

>

> This is not the ultimate solution though, that is for them to make

> electronic versions

> available for reasonable prices over print and in packaged deals. It is

> really difficult to

> justify for example why the Deadman CD is priced as high as it is, if it

> was priced correctly

> (under $40) it would sell light hot cakes and many would still buy the

> book as well.

>

> David Botton

>

> --- In

Chinese Medicine <Chinese Medicine%40yaho\

ogroups.com>,

> " "

> <attiliodalberto wrote:

> >

> > Could you give me more details of the technology please.

> >

> > Attilio

> > www.chinesemedicinetimes.com

> >

>

>

>

 

 

 

--

'Freedom from the desire for an answer is essential to the understanding of

a problem.'

 

Jiddu Krishnamurti