Pirated textbooks, anyone?

Due to limited resources and lack of access to one of the most basic and important implements of schooling, many students at the state university have resorted to photocopying required textbooks despite knowing they are violating of the law.

Students of the University of the Philippines (UP) argued, however, that they resort to buying photocopied books because original copies are not available in bookstores or the library does not have enough copies.

"We know it is bad but we don’t have a choice," Frantz Rivera, a student of UP’s School of Economics told The STAR.

Although Frantz claimed he has not tried photocopying his books for school, he said that most of his classmates regularly do so since original books cost as much as P1,500, while a photocopied version would only cost P350.

Gerry, a law student noted that using photocopied books is a big help to students, especially to those coming from families that are not well off.

He estimated that photocopied books are cheaper by as much as 70 percent compared to brand new ones.

A professor of Filipino and Philippine literature backed the arguments of the students.

According to the professor, who requested anonymity, students cannot be entirely blamed for resorting to the use of photocopied books as she admitted that even the UP library does not have enough books for the students.

However, she does not favor photocopying since it makes students less interested in attending classes and instead depend solely on the photocopied books.

"Actually, the problem is not as bad here since we seldom use imported textbooks unlike other colleges that rely on imported ones," she said. "But I believe something should be done about this."

Last week, elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) raided two shops at the UP Shopping Center and confiscated numerous photocopied law books as well as a xerox machine, pressing and binding equipment.

Authorities said the photocopying of books is a violation of Republic Act 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Rights.

A staff at the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs at UP denied knowledge of the illegal activity at the shopping center, asserting that the tenants should be the ones that must be held liable.

She disclosed that rightful tenants registered and allowed by the Business Concession Office usually sub-lease their areas to other business.

But University Student Council councilor and law student Anna Iglesias said it might not be good for students if photocopying of books is prohibited in campus.

"The entire university system will collapse if they do that," Iglesias said without elaborating. "Maybe what UP can do is to ensure that books are accessible to all the 27,000 students of the university, or provide enough books for everyone."