Copyright fees result in high packet prices

Students often dread the beginning of an academic semester in part because it means long lines and high costs of course packets at local copy shops, such as Pequod and Triangle. What students may not realize, however, is that high packet prices reflect not only the cost of photocopying and binding pages, but also the complicated process of adhering to copyright laws.

Andre Liu '91, one of the two owners of Pequod, explained that about 50 percent of the revenue from course packets is sent back to the publishers of the reprinted articles because of copyright fees dictated by the Copyright Clearance Center — a company that provides licensing systems for the reproduction and distribution of copyrighted materials.

Marta Starostka, who manages Pequod, added that the price of course packets includes "labor, paper, copyright costs and binding."

If a student were to photocopy one page, it would cost 30 cents at Triangle, 10 cents at Firestone library and 5 cents at Pequod. Copying a typical course packet of 110 pages would therefore cost $5.50 at Pequod, $11.00 at Firestone and $33.00 at Triangle.

In contrast, the 110-page course packet for CHI 412 printed at Pequod costs $23.00 — much higher than if a student had photocopied the pages himself — once copyright fees are included.

Jim Townsend, a Triangle sales associate, described the process of determining the price for course packets. "The price is determined mainly by the copyright and the publishers," he said. "Then they send us a bill."

Townsend said he is often frustrated that the publishers of reprinted articles charge arbitrary copyright fees because there is "no industry standard price."

Liu added that the most important criterion in pricing the course packets is to observe copyright laws. "It's not worth it for me to skimp on copyrighting because it's such a big risk," he said. "You could be sued for copyright infringement."

Alternatives

Meredith Quick '01 suggested other alternatives to the expensive course packets. "There should be some other system of getting the readings, such as more use of the Electronic Reserve," she said.

Theater and dance fellow Susanne Wofford agreed that course packets are too expensive. For this reason, the theater and dance program opts not to order packets and instead collects $15 from every student who enrolls in a course to cover copying costs, she said.

"There is so much necessary xeroxing, that if the department didn't charge a fee, there would be real trouble," Wofford said.

With numerous copying stores in the area, individual departments and professors choose which service to use based on their previous knowledge of and relationship with each store, Liu said. "It's mostly a one-to-one relationship," he noted.

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For example, environmental studies professor Bess Ward chose to have her course packet for ENV 202 printed at Triangle because the shop was able to print a colored cover, according to Patricia Denton, administrative assistant at the Princeton Environmental Institute.

Professors, unlike students, can often avoid paying high prices for packets. Both Triangle and Pequod provide a complimentary copy of the course packet for the class's professor. Starostka said that "a professor will usually be given one free copy for every 15 student copies. If they want more, their department can buy it for half price."