Is it a violation of copyright law to purchase one copy of a textbook and make copies of it for other students in the class?

Making copies of a textbook for distribution to other students in the class generally constitutes a violation of copyright law. When a textbook is purchased, the buyer typically obtains a license to use that specific copy and does not have the right to reproduce it without permission from the copyright holder. Copyright law protects the intellectual property of authors and publishers, allowing them to control how their works are reproduced and distributed.

While there are certain fair use provisions that allow limited use of copyrighted materials under specific circumstances, such as criticism, comment, or scholarly work, the copying of an entire textbook or significant portions for the purpose of sharing with others often exceeds those limits. Thus, making additional copies for classmates would not be permissible under standard copyright laws, reinforcing the understanding that distributing copies beyond personal use infringes on the rights of the copyright holder.