I almost didn't read this article before I realized it might become an innovation in textbook publishing that would benefit the student user link here link here. Macmillan, the publisher, has a program that allows the course teacher to modify the textbook to change the order in which material is presented and to alter the content, using software called DynamicBooks. "Students will be able to buy the e-books at dynamicbooks.com, in college bookstores and through CourseSmart, a joint venture among five textbook publishers that sells electronic textbooks. The DynamicBooks editions which can be reached online or downloaded can be read on laptops and the iPhone from Apple." Prices will be considerably less--in one case, a book whose print edition listed for $134.29 will sell for $48.76 in the DynamicBooks version.

One feature that is particularly appealing is that vintage texts can be easily updated, which would be especially important for science where new discoveries are frequent. Whether copyrighted authors will be quite so happy with this innovation is less clear. Since the texts can be downloaded, a second hand market might develop, although I would expect publishers to try to prevent it.

But if it takes off, it will benefit the student with lower prices--which have been a scandal. And it could benefit publishers by lowering their costs and get around the monopoly power of the patented ebook readers. This could also have differential impact on small publishers, if the software to update material is readily available. Authors may even end up liking it.

John Bennett writes:

In one case, a book whose print edition listed for $134.29 will sell for $48.76 in the DynamicBooks version.

While the marginal cost of reproduction of the DynamicBooks version is $0.00.

A slightly smaller ripoff is still a ripoff.