--- Forwarded Message from Harold Hendricks <[log in to unmask]> --- >Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2000 15:47:50 -0600 >From: Harold Hendricks <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Cheng & Tsui Pricing >To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]> >Organization: Humanities Research Center, Brigham Young University >References: <[log in to unmask]> ------------------ I would like to address the recent discussion on pricing by Cheng & Tsui and verify what Jill Cheng wrote about Asian publication prices. Over the years we have dealt with a number of publishers from Japan, Hong Kong, and China, seeking permission to use audio materials to accompany text books. In every case we were told the only option was to buy the student cassettes at full retail and no permission to copy was ever granted. We adopted Integrated Chinese the first year it bacame available, and although we knew from past experience with Cheng & Tsui that their policies were different from the major textbook publishers, we at least were relieved to find out they did have a duplication license. Based on the number of students who use the text here, the amortized cost was not that unreasonable. I realize that for schools with very small numbers the cost is great, espeically when, as Read stated, it is a surprise textbook change, as so often happens to all of us at the beginning of the school year. I think we should think for a moment and realize that an eight-person company can't play the game like the multi-national textbook companies that we are used to dealing with for Spanish, French, German, Italian, and that Cheng & Tsui's "third way" is a reasonable approach developed in consultation with several IALL members. I'm sure there could be adjustments made to it, but at this point all we have succeeded in doing is causing them to halt all licenses and seriously consider dropping all duplication rights. So if you are wondering why I'm defending Cheng & Tsui, it is because I have always had a good working relationship with them and the impact of losing duplication permissions will be a tremendous blow to our 450 Chinese students. I have spoken with our faculty who know Jill Cheng personally. They are surprised at the LLTI response to someone who they consider to be an extremely reasonable person who has done a tremendous service to their discipline. Daniel Tom wrote that he will let Ted Yao know about the controversy. It's too late. Ted believes that IALL is boycotting his textbook based on one of the messages sent to this listserv. I hope no such boycott is seriously being considered. My hope is that we will not let emotion get the better of us to the detriment of our programs and students. -- ##################################### Harold H. Hendricks Supervisor, Humanities Learning Resource Center and CLIPS computer facility. Brigham Young University 3045B JKHB, PO BOX 26098 Provo, UT 84602-6098 Tel (801) 378-6448 FAX (801) 378-7313 #####################################