Well, Judy...it sucks, put it isn't illegal, as far as I'm aware. There continues to be a fair amount of confusion about the PPR/institutional pricing gambit... Here's the deal:
Some distributors charge higher prices to institutions (or others) because they bundle items in their catalogs with PPR. In some cases, the same titles may also be available without PPR on the home video market (however, rarely are titles offered without PPR via the distributor's web site). Some distributors charge higher prices to institutions because...well, because they feel they can get the $$$ out of them. Some of these folks confuse things by contending that PPR are required for ALL institutional uses (including classroom use)--a false contention, of course. The bottom line is, vendors can charge whatever it wants, at whatever price, to whomever they want, and under whichever conditions of use it wishes: the transaction is commercial and contractual. Hell, they can charge higher prices to hazel-eyed, red-haired users if they want... Now, that said: If a vendor chooses to put its wares into home video distribution, they really have no say about who buys--particularly if the fulfillment is by a third party such as amazon. We have had instances here in which we've attempted to score home video stuff via amazon, only to be informed that, as an institution, we have to pay more (in these cases, fulfillment is via the vendor). Can't do much about it. gary handman > That site Scott indicated looks interesting. However, I have a basic > question. > > Isn't it illegal to make a special price for one group of customers? As I > recall, the institutional price does not in fact always include PPR. > > Individual purchases disk for reasonable price but waives legal right to > use it in teaching. > Institution purchases disk for 10x the reasonable price, or more, but > does not have to waive legal right to use in teaching. > > Is that right? > > Judy > > > > > > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of > issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic > control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in > libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve > as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of > communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video > producers and distributors. > Gary Handman Director Media Resources Center Moffitt Library UC Berkeley 510-643-8566 ghand...@library.berkeley.edu http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC "I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself." --Francois Truffaut VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
