You see a lot written about the textbook market these days. The textbook market and international editions. Alibris has recently changed their policy about dealers listing used International edition textbooks there because of the recent court case Pearson vrs Liu.

As pointed out several places around the web, this decision doesn't really seem to answer the question entirely and there will probably be another few rounds before the present publishers loose their battle for cheaper textbooks. This case seems to say that the first sale doctrine is still alive and well and it is only the importation of goods for sale which is illegal. Google answers has a nice writeup on the question of Legality of Selling International Edition Textbooks

So what does a student do to cut down on textbook expense besides getting an international edition? Saving money is like other efforts in life. You generally have to work at it to make it worth doing. In this case, start early. Don't show up the day before classes and expect to find inexpensive copies. The earlier the better. Can you get a list of the books needed from the prof before you register? Maybe the list from prof A is cheaper than the list from prof B. Shop off campus as well as on line. Comparison shop. Do you know someone 'ahead of you' you can buy from? Is e-books an option [don't forget to take into account that you generally can't resell an e-book]?

Oh, and finally, don't forget to look at those international editions. Sometimes it's cheaper to import a copy for your class than to buy a 'geographically correct' copy. Since you are buying it for use in your class, you are still protected by the first sale doctrine and can resell it at the end of the semester. I expect though, that anything over one or two copies brought into the US and later sold in a moderately short time frame might be interpreted as importing with the intent to sell.

>> 'til next time - DW <<