Copyright protection
Both at school and university, students’ days are filled with a number of duplicates and reproductions. These copies are often taken directly from a textbook. It is regrettable that copies have been allowed to replace the original to such a large extent. We appreciate that teachers and students sometimes have no choice but to take illegal copies when harsh financial realities come into play. Local authority cutbacks and low student grants are forcing teachers and students towards the photocopier.
There are many reasons why it is important to protect copyright, not least when it comes to educational materials. The author of a textbook invests much time and thought in writing it and publishing houses invest time and money in editorial activities. If material is copied illegally, holders of copyright are not remunerated for their work. As long as authors are appropriately compensated for their efforts, educational materials will continue to be developed. It is worth investing a little extra to ensure that the materials produced are of good quality. Illegal copying thwarts the development of new materials. It also results in fewer, more expensive editions being published. The time spent copying materials by teachers and students alike could be much better spent elsewhere.
Current debate on copyright often focuses on file sharing, but this is just one part of the copyright issue. Digitalisation is simply a question of packaging and debate in this respect fails to address the heart of the matter. Svenska Läromedel is working towards widening the copyright debate. It is much more a question of ownership and appropriate remuneration.
The production of educational materials cannot be compared to that of fiction. It takes longer to produce a textbook and is considerably more expensive. Syllabuses and curricula which are unique to Sweden have to be taken into consideration, together with didactic and pedagogical approaches. This can prove particularly problematic with Swedish being spoken by a relatively small number of people. If we want Swedish materials to be widely published, strong copyright protection is essential to ensure that authors, designers and editors are appropriately remunerated for their work. Unlawful copying is theft – regardless of whether copies are digital or paper-based.