[runningdogx]

This is another attempt at segmenting a market for goods depending on the price that can be extracted for that good in a particular market, while keeping the cheap versions from being marketable in countries with higher discretionary income. Somewhat similar to DVD region codes, except applied to books.

Publishers sell (or sell rights to sell) lower-quality texts abroad because they can make a profit. Then they get pissy when people resell those international editions in the U.S.

The market says that people want cheaper books and they don't care about colors or paper quality. Textbooks often end up mauled after a semester anyway. Publishers don't listen, people try to fill the void, and they get sued.

"While the written content of books for the domestic and international markets is often similar or identical, books intended for international markets can differ from the domestic version in design, supplemental content (such as accompanying CD–ROMS), and the type and quality of materials used for printing, including “thinner paper and different bindings, different cover and jacket designs, fewer internal ink colors, if any, [and] lower quality photographs and graphics." (from background in the 2nd circuit ruling)

http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1577369.html