Stephen Downe's OLD daily newsletter linked to a short article on textbook theft using scanners.

There wasn't really much evidence of this happening on a wide scale. I tend to think that this sort of thing happens in response to new technologies and grossly overpriced products, like CDs or Mach III razors.

Although I don't condone it, I know someone who can put a good-sized book online using a basic scanner and Abbey Finereader in about 45 minutes.

Part of me likes the idea of blackmarket textbooks converted to .pdfs being shuttled about via p2p networks. I think it would prove instructive, at least to the really annoying publishers like E... oh never mind.