{"id":175835,"date":"2025-04-09T02:18:38","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T00:18:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/kopiering-af-studieboeger-hver-anden-studerende-bryder-loven\/"},"modified":"2025-04-09T09:22:29","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T07:22:29","slug":"textbook-piracy-is-a-crime-and-half-of-students-are-guilty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/textbook-piracy-is-a-crime-and-half-of-students-are-guilty\/","title":{"rendered":"Textbook piracy is a crime \u2014 and half of students are guilty"},"content":{"rendered":"

18,000 UCPH students have broken the law.<\/p>\n

This would have been the court verdict if it followed a 2024 study<\/a> showing that more than half of all Danish students (54 per cent) have obtained textbooks illegally during their studies. The proportion was 48 per cent for Danish students in 2022, suggesting that the problem is growing.<\/p>\n

\n

What are you allowed to do?<\/p>\n

If you are sharing physical study materials with others, you may only copy and share up to 20 per cent (or a maximum of 50 pages in total) of each work per student per semester.<\/p>\n

If the study material has already been legally digitised, it must be shared via Absalon, which requires a password. Social media platforms like Facebook or Dropbox are not permitted.<\/p>\n

You are allowed to make physical copies for personal use or for one other person (e.g., your study partner). But if you scan study material into a digital copy, you are not allowed to share it.<\/p>\n

You may use the text freely without restrictions if the work is more than 70 years old or if all authors are deceased.<\/p>\n

You are allowed to buy or sell used physical textbooks, as this does not involve piracy.<\/p>\n

Source: UCPH\u2019s Copydan agreement<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

According to calculations by the Rettighedsalliancen, <\/em>a Danish interest group fighting for creative industries’ rights, the illegal copying of textbooks has the book industry and the Danish government forgoing DKK 225 million in annual income<\/a>, which corresponds to almost one third (31 per cent) of the total market value of the textbooks.<\/p>\n

The trend has prompted NOTA \u2014 a library providing digital textbooks for students with visual or reading impairments \u2014 to take action. A new encryption solution<\/secret><\/span> introduced in September 2024 now detects illegal sharing of digital books originally from NOTA that are intended only for students under special educational support (SPS) schemes. The new measure so far caught 29 instances of illegal textbook sharing by 17 individuals.<\/p>\n

Illegally sharing textbooks is a clear violation of copyright law and of UCPH agreements with Copydan \u2014 the organisation authorised by the Danish government to levy and distribute compensation to authors and producers. This means that students risk serious consequences if caught, as explained by Peter Lind Nielsen, a lawyer specialising in copyright law.<\/p>\n

\u00bbThe consequences for someone who does the copying are at the very least financial compensation \u2014 meaning they will have to pay what the books would have cost legally. The illegal copy must also be deleted. And if the offence is serious, it can lead to a fine and a permanent criminal record,\u00ab he explains.<\/p>\n

Receiving stolen goods is as bad as stealing<\/h3>\n

According to Peter Lind Nielsen, the scale of the offence matters. The above penalties typically apply to cases involving large copy centres. This is where \u00bba black book market\u00ab exists, and the penalties are more severe here than for someone who simply shares a book for free, or who makes a copy for a friend.<\/p>\n

\u00bbThere are copy centres with full reading lists where you can browse and order just like on an online book store. Only it’s a lot cheaper because you\u2019re getting a pirated version. And in serious cases, the punishment can be up to six years in prison \u2014 the same as for trading stolen goods.\u00ab<\/p>\n

Back in 2021, a 28-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were convicted<\/a> for running a copy centre like this as a business. According to Peter Lind Nielsen, the seriousness of the offence increases with the number of books involved and the profits made.<\/p>\n

It is just as punishable to receive<\/p>\n

Peter Lind Nielsen, lawyer specialising in copyright law<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

It is also illegal to share textbooks even if you make no profit, Peter Lind Nielsen emphasises, and it makes no legal difference whether you shared, or received, a pirated book.<\/p>\n

\u00bbIt is just as punishable to receive, unless the sender has distributed the material extensively \u2014 in which case the penalty will be more severe. The receiver is just as guilty as the thief, and anyone who accepts stolen goods is also penalised,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n

But does it have any consequences?<\/h3>\n

University Post toured the UCPH campus and spoke to several students who were all aware of textbooks were being illegally copied. Some even admitted themselves to having received books this way.<\/p>\n

READ ALSO:<\/strong> Students don’t seem to care if it’s theft: \u00bbTextbooks are ridiculously expensive\u00ab<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Among the students we met, this behaviour has become so normalised that some liken it to crossing the street at a red light. But Peter Lind Nielsen warns against this attitude.<\/p>\n

\u00bbPiracy is worse than riding your bike without lights at night, or crossing a red light. The fact that it’s common, or that others do it, is no excuse,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n

Even though the problem is widespread, students are very rarely caught pirating textbooks. This is partly because isolated incidents are hard to detect, and partly because prosecuting the few cases that do get discovered is not cost-effective.<\/p>\n

\u00bbThe chance of being caught is quite low, as it requires rights holders, authors, and publishers to track down lists of offenders. And it costs money and takes time to go to court and secure evidence. Typically, enforcement only happens when the copying is so extensive that a court is willing to issue a search warrant,\u00ab the lawyer says and adds:<\/p>\n

\u00bbThat\u2019s why it’s very rare that raids are conducted on a student\u2019s home.\u00ab<\/p>\n

Illegal sharing causes significant financial losses for publishers. Occasionally, publishers launch what Peter Lind Nielsen calls a \u00bbdeterrence campaign.\u00ab The goal is not to catch every offender, but to make students aware of the consequences.<\/p>\n

The future of teaching materials under pressure<\/h3>\n

Piracy also violates UCPH\u2019s own agreement with Copydan, and over time, publishers’ losses may affect the university too.<\/p>\n

\u00bbYou might worry that some publishers will no longer want to enter into agreements with UCPH because they\u2019re being broken. Of course, it\u2019s not UCPH that is breaking them \u2014 it’s the students,\u00ab says Peter Lind Nielsen.<\/p>\n

And ultimately, it is students who will suffer if teaching materials are no longer made available to the university.<\/p>\n

In the worst-case scenario, textbooks may stop being produced altogether if publishers cannot cover production costs.<\/p>\n

\u00bbAlthough authors don\u2019t make a lot of money from textbooks, publishers and editors invest a huge amount of work that needs to be paid for. You can easily imagine a time when that model no longer works. And then things will get really bad \u2014 because suddenly, there will be no textbooks,\u00ab says Peter Lind Nielsen.<\/p>\n

Some students interviewed by University Post suspect that publishers release new editions with only minimal changes to boost profits. Peter Lind Nielsen, who writes textbooks himself, dispels that idea:<\/p>\n

\u00bbThose of us who write textbooks gave up viewing it as a source of income long ago. If I calculated my hourly wage, I\u2019d make more doing food deliveres on my bike,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n

Copenhagen University Library: Use us<\/h3>\n

To curb the illegal sharing of textbooks, the Copenhagen University Library has counselling service in good academic practice and digital literacy. It is an effort they have \u00bbgradually prioritised more,\u00ab say Kira Stine Hansen and Bonnie Frisendahl, who are Deputy Director of the Royal Danish Library and University Librarian at UCPH, respectively.<\/p>\n

Hansen and Frisendahl responded to University Post\u2019s questions in writing.<\/p>\n

While they maintain that \u00bbeach student is personally responsible for understanding copyright rules and ensuring no illegal sharing takes place,\u00ab they acknowledge a shared responsibility:<\/p>\n

\u00bbWe all have a collective duty to inform each other about how to use study materials properly and legally,\u00ab they write.<\/p>\n

Students have suggested that cheaper textbooks would help curb the problem \u2014 what would it take to make that happen?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00bbThe University Library continuously works with publishers to improve infrastructure and business models, including how to ensure more open and free access to academic content,\u00ab Hansen and Frisendahl reply. However, they also note that lowering prices could introduce new challenges:<\/p>\n

\u00bbTextbooks are a special category with time-sensitive relevance and therefore have different pricing \u2014 for Danish publishers, the library, and for students. And this is not just a Danish issue,\u00ab they write.<\/p>\n

They encourage students to reach out to the University Library, which offers legal access to a lot of study material \u2014 including items that may not be visibly available on the shelves.<\/p>\n

\u00bbWe follow a user-driven acquisition policy, which means you can always write to us if something isn\u2019t accessible. We will then try to obtain it. And if in doubt, you can always ask us in the University Library,\u00ab they conclude.
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09:05:08","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1024,"height":519,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/copyright-150x150.jpg","thumbnail-width":150,"thumbnail-height":150,"medium":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/copyright-480x243.jpg","medium-width":480,"medium-height":243,"medium_large":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/copyright-768x389.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":389,"large":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/copyright.jpg","large-width":1024,"large-height":519,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/copyright.jpg","1536x1536-width":1024,"1536x1536-height":519,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/copyright.jpg","2048x2048-width":1024,"2048x2048-height":519,"featured-soft":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/copyright-290x147.jpg","featured-soft-width":290,"featured-soft-height":147,"featured-hard":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/copyright-290x180.jpg","featured-hard-width":290,"featured-hard-height":180,"narrow":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/copyright-700x355.jpg","narrow-width":700,"narrow-height":355,"extended":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/copyright-990x502.jpg","extended-width":990,"extended-height":502}},"style":"extended","text_placement":"metadata-below","image_link_url":"","image_link_title":"","caption_prefix":"","enable_alternative_caption":true,"alternative_caption":"Rules on sharing textbooks are clearcut \u2014 and illegally sharing them can lead to penalties."},{"acf_fc_layout":"Standfirst","subject":"Textbook copying","text":"Det g\u00e5r ud over bogforlagene, KU og i v\u00e6rste fald dem selv. De studerendes omgang med ulovlige studieb\u00f8ger er mere omfattende end nogensinde \u2013 her er konsekvenserne. ","use_post_excerpt":true},{"acf_fc_layout":"Byline","is_author":true,"contributors":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"Content","content":"<p>18,000 UCPH students have broken the law.<\/p>\n<p>This would have been the court verdict if it followed a <a href=\"https:\/\/rettighedsalliancen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Studerendes-anskaffelse-af-studieboeger-2024_epinion_rettighedsalliancen_offentlig-version.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2024 study<\/a> showing that more than half of all Danish students (54 per cent) have obtained textbooks illegally during their studies. The proportion was 48 per cent for Danish students in 2022, suggesting that the problem is growing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\">\n<p class=\"factbox-header feature-color\">What are you allowed to do?<\/p>\n<p>If you are sharing physical study materials with others, you may only copy and share up to 20 per cent (or a maximum of 50 pages in total) of each work per student per semester.<\/p>\n<p>If the study material has already been legally digitised, it must be shared via Absalon, which requires a password. Social media platforms like Facebook or Dropbox are not permitted.<\/p>\n<p>You are allowed to make physical copies for personal use or for one other person (e.g., your study partner). But if you scan study material into a digital copy, you are not allowed to share it.<\/p>\n<p>You may use the text freely without restrictions if the work is more than 70 years old or if all authors are deceased.<\/p>\n<p>You are allowed to buy or sell used physical textbooks, as this does not involve piracy.<\/p>\n<p><em>Source: UCPH\u2019s Copydan agreement<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>According to calculations by the <em>Rettighedsalliancen, <\/em>a Danish interest group fighting for creative industries’ rights, the illegal copying of textbooks has the book industry and the Danish government forgoing <a href=\"https:\/\/rettighedsalliancen.dk\/piratkopiering-af-studieboger-koster-bogbranchen-og-staten-225-millioner-arligt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DKK 225 million in annual income<\/a>, which corresponds to almost one third (31 per cent) of the total market value of the textbooks.<\/p>\n<p>The trend has prompted NOTA \u2014 a library providing digital textbooks for students with visual or reading impairments \u2014 to take action. A new <span title=\"This encryption solution limits access to the current textbook so that it can only be opened on up to three devices\"><secret text=\"The encryption solution limits access to the current textbook so that it can be accessed on a maximum of three devices\">encryption solution<\/secret><\/span> introduced in September 2024 now detects illegal sharing of digital books originally from NOTA that are intended only for students under special educational support (SPS) schemes. The new measure so far caught 29 instances of illegal textbook sharing by 17 individuals.<\/p>\n<p>Illegally sharing textbooks is a clear violation of copyright law and of UCPH agreements with Copydan \u2014 the organisation authorised by the Danish government to levy and distribute compensation to authors and producers. This means that students risk serious consequences if caught, as explained by Peter Lind Nielsen, a lawyer specialising in copyright law.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbThe consequences for someone who does the copying are at the very least financial compensation \u2014 meaning they will have to pay what the books would have cost legally. The illegal copy must also be deleted. And if the offence is serious, it can lead to a fine and a permanent criminal record,\u00ab he explains.<\/p>\n<h3>Receiving stolen goods is as bad as stealing<\/h3>\n<p>According to Peter Lind Nielsen, the scale of the offence matters. The above penalties typically apply to cases involving large copy centres. This is where \u00bba black book market\u00ab exists, and the penalties are more severe here than for someone who simply shares a book for free, or who makes a copy for a friend.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbThere are copy centres with full reading lists where you can browse and order just like on an online book store. Only it’s a lot cheaper because you\u2019re getting a pirated version. And in serious cases, the punishment can be up to six years in prison \u2014 the same as for trading stolen goods.\u00ab<\/p>\n<p>Back in 2021, a <a href=\"https:\/\/rucpaper.dk\/2022\/02\/03\/tidligere-studerende-har-faet-harde-straffe-ulovlig-kopiering-af-studieboger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">28-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman were convicted<\/a> for running a copy centre like this as a business. According to Peter Lind Nielsen, the seriousness of the offence increases with the number of books involved and the profits made.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>It is just as punishable to receive<\/p>\n<p class=\"quotee\">Peter Lind Nielsen, lawyer specialising in copyright law<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>It is also illegal to share textbooks even if you make no profit, Peter Lind Nielsen emphasises, and it makes no legal difference whether you shared, or received, a pirated book.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbIt is just as punishable to receive, unless the sender has distributed the material extensively \u2014 in which case the penalty will be more severe. The receiver is just as guilty as the thief, and anyone who accepts stolen goods is also penalised,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n<h3>But does it have any consequences?<\/h3>\n<p>University Post toured the UCPH campus and spoke to several students who were all aware of textbooks were being illegally copied. Some even admitted themselves to having received books this way.<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ ALSO:<\/strong><em> <a href=\"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/students-dont-seem-to-care-if-its-theft-textbooks-are-ridiculously-expensive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Students don’t seem to care if it’s theft: \u00bbTextbooks are ridiculously expensive\u00ab<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Among the students we met, this behaviour has become so normalised that some liken it to crossing the street at a red light. But Peter Lind Nielsen warns against this attitude.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbPiracy is worse than riding your bike without lights at night, or crossing a red light. The fact that it’s common, or that others do it, is no excuse,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n<p>Even though the problem is widespread, students are very rarely caught pirating textbooks. This is partly because isolated incidents are hard to detect, and partly because prosecuting the few cases that do get discovered is not cost-effective.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbThe chance of being caught is quite low, as it requires rights holders, authors, and publishers to track down lists of offenders. And it costs money and takes time to go to court and secure evidence. Typically, enforcement only happens when the copying is so extensive that a court is willing to issue a search warrant,\u00ab the lawyer says and adds:<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbThat\u2019s why it’s very rare that raids are conducted on a student\u2019s home.\u00ab<\/p>\n<p>Illegal sharing causes significant financial losses for publishers. Occasionally, publishers launch what Peter Lind Nielsen calls a \u00bbdeterrence campaign.\u00ab The goal is not to catch every offender, but to make students aware of the consequences.<\/p>\n<h3>The future of teaching materials under pressure<\/h3>\n<p>Piracy also violates UCPH\u2019s own agreement with Copydan, and over time, publishers’ losses may affect the university too.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbYou might worry that some publishers will no longer want to enter into agreements with UCPH because they\u2019re being broken. Of course, it\u2019s not UCPH that is breaking them \u2014 it’s the students,\u00ab says Peter Lind Nielsen.<\/p>\n<p>And ultimately, it is students who will suffer if teaching materials are no longer made available to the university.<\/p>\n<p>In the worst-case scenario, textbooks may stop being produced altogether if publishers cannot cover production costs.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbAlthough authors don\u2019t make a lot of money from textbooks, publishers and editors invest a huge amount of work that needs to be paid for. You can easily imagine a time when that model no longer works. And then things will get really bad \u2014 because suddenly, there will be no textbooks,\u00ab says Peter Lind Nielsen.<\/p>\n<p>Some students interviewed by University Post suspect that publishers release new editions with only minimal changes to boost profits. Peter Lind Nielsen, who writes textbooks himself, dispels that idea:<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbThose of us who write textbooks gave up viewing it as a source of income long ago. If I calculated my hourly wage, I\u2019d make more doing food deliveres on my bike,\u00ab he says.<\/p>\n<h3>Copenhagen University Library: Use us<\/h3>\n<p>To curb the illegal sharing of textbooks, the Copenhagen University Library has counselling service in good academic practice and digital literacy. It is an effort they have \u00bbgradually prioritised more,\u00ab say Kira Stine Hansen and Bonnie Frisendahl, who are Deputy Director of the Royal Danish Library and University Librarian at UCPH, respectively.<\/p>\n<p>Hansen and Frisendahl responded to University Post\u2019s questions in writing.<\/p>\n<p>While they maintain that \u00bbeach student is personally responsible for understanding copyright rules and ensuring no illegal sharing takes place,\u00ab they acknowledge a shared responsibility:<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbWe all have a collective duty to inform each other about how to use study materials properly and legally,\u00ab they write.<\/p>\n<p><em>Students have suggested that cheaper textbooks would help curb the problem \u2014 what would it take to make that happen?<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00bbThe University Library continuously works with publishers to improve infrastructure and business models, including how to ensure more open and free access to academic content,\u00ab Hansen and Frisendahl reply. However, they also note that lowering prices could introduce new challenges:<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbTextbooks are a special category with time-sensitive relevance and therefore have different pricing \u2014 for Danish publishers, the library, and for students. And this is not just a Danish issue,\u00ab they write.<\/p>\n<p>They encourage students to reach out to the University Library, which offers legal access to a lot of study material \u2014 including items that may not be visibly available on the shelves.<\/p>\n<p>\u00bbWe follow a user-driven acquisition policy, which means you can always write to us if something isn\u2019t accessible. We will then try to obtain it. And if in doubt, you can always ask us in the University Library,\u00ab they conclude.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"ArticleEnd"},{"acf_fc_layout":"Newsletter","lang_select":"en","identifier":"Newsletter","headline":"Get an email with University of Copenhagen events and top stories","button_text":"Sign up here","class":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"OtherStories","headline":"","hand_picked_posts":false,"references":false,"category":false,"theme":false,"number_of_posts":"4","style":"default"}]},"taxonomyData":{"category":[{"term_id":3792,"name":"Student life","slug":"student-life","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3792,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":160,"filter":"raw"}],"post_tag":[],"post_format":[],"expression":[{"term_id":15,"name":"News Article","slug":"news_article","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":15,"taxonomy":"expression","description":"","parent":0,"count":11493,"filter":"raw"}],"translation_priority":[{"term_id":5468,"name":"Optional","slug":"optional-en","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5468,"taxonomy":"translation_priority","description":"","parent":0,"count":674,"filter":"raw"}]},"featured_media_url":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/copyright.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175835","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=175835"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175835\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":175967,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175835\/revisions\/175967"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/175743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=175835"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=175835"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=175835"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}