Eastlane textbook is on high demand to the university students throughout the world who undertake the survey English literature courses. Only college bookstores are allowed to sell the book and they charge 210 dollars for a new copy. This is quite a high price that financially poor students cannot afford to pay. Upset about this hopeless situation, 3 professors at HSU came up with a program to help the students who are financially strapped. This was a risky decision as they understand they can end up in jail.
To access their scanned textbook in their website the students are asked to prove to the three professors until they are satisfied, that they are unable to disburse full payment for the textbook and then pay only 105dollars. This a fair deal to the students. However, the students can be accused of infringement of copyright if they accept this offer. This leaves the students in a dilemma whether to access the website even though it is a crime or to stay without the book as they cannot afford it from the bookstores.
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Eastlane’s corporate policy forbids reselling second-hand texts and therefore they avoid all online textbook retailers such as Amazon. The three professors and some students try to violate this policy and the stakeholders have to choose whether to sue them or not. This policy aims at promoting their book price and if they allow copyright violation to continue the textbook price might fluctuate.
Dr. Breach literature has gained popularity nationally as it is an ideal text. He deserves to earn profit from his work. Furthermore, the book price must have been evaluated and calculated before tagging it. He has to make a choice whether to support the management decision and sue the policy breakers or join with the professors and help the poor students.
The general counsel suggests that I, as the CEO of the popular Eastlane , should charge HSU and also all those students who have visited the three professors’ website with infringement of copyright. Approving the lawsuit seems to be the correct decision as per the Eastlane’s policy. Indeed, the HSU committed copyright violation as they scanned and used the textbook which is protected by copyright act, without permission. They should face the law to ensure that they answer for their crime and consequently close the websites.
Undoubtedly, the Eastlane policy is unethical. It is mean to deny both online textbook retailers and second-hand bookshops to sell such important book on basis of propping up the text price. More reasons need to be given to conferring the policy meaning. Shutting down the website means that no more affordable online literature for the financially strapped student. It is not ethical to just ignore the students’ agony and close the website. Nevertheless, as the new CEO, it is my responsibility to uphold Eastlane’s policy. Indeed, the whole managerial team supports the lawsuit and advising them otherwise means going against their decision. I have to choose whether to support the students and the three professors or to sign the lawsuit.
A morally upright decision must be made to solve the ethical dilemma. All parties have good reasons for their actions and cannot be judged. Therefore, an agreement must be arrived at by both the student affairs representatives and Eatlane management. Students who are honestly financially poor can be allowed to buy the book at a reduced price from the university stores. This can only happen if the Eastlane policy is adjusted to allow the bookstores to sell at the suggested reduced price.
