STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Four leading
education companies, Cengage Learning, Inc., John Wiley and Sons,
Inc., Pearson Education, Inc. and McGraw-Hill Education, today
announced they have settled five unconnected matters involving
copyright and trademark infringement claims against companies
relating to the sale of counterfeit textbooks. The five
separate settlements call for the combined payment of more than
$2.6 million dollars and agreements
not to engage in any infringement going forward. The five
distributors agreeing to settle the publishers' claims are:
Kentwood Industries in California,
Texas Book Company in Texas,
Sterling Educational Media in Florida, Davis Textbook in California and ABSnext Corporation (formerly
known as Budgetext Corporation) in Arkansas.
The settlements came about after an intensive investigation by
the education companies revealed a large wave of counterfeit
textbooks being distributed in the United
States. The investigation further revealed that among
the sources used by the textbook distributors to acquire their
books were overseas suppliers identified as being a source of
counterfeit textbooks.
"We hope that these settlements send a strong message that
textbook publishers will not allow those who profit from the sale
of counterfeit works to pocket that money," said Matt Oppenheim, of Oppenheim + Zebrak, LLP who
represented Cengage Learning, Wiley, Pearson and McGraw-Hill.
"These companies are continuing to enforce their rights and do not
intend to allow others to sell infringing copies of their textbooks
without facing the consequences of doing so."
While the education companies have settled claims against these
five distributors, they are currently pursuing action against other
groups of individuals and companies that engaged in similar
conduct.
About Cengage Learning
Cengage Learning is a leading provider of innovative
teaching, learning and research solutions for the academic,
professional and library markets worldwide. The company's products
and services are designed to foster academic excellence and
professional development, increase student engagement, improve
learning outcomes and deliver authoritative information to people
whenever and wherever they need it. Through the company's unique
position within both the library and academic markets, Cengage
Learning is providing integrated learning solutions that bridge
from the library to the classroom. Cengage Learning's brands
include Brooks/Cole, Course Technology, Delmar, Gale, Heinle,
National Geographic Learning, South-Western and Wadsworth, among others. Cengage Learning is
headquartered in Stamford, CT. For
more information on Cengage Learning please visit
www.cengage.com.
About McGraw-Hill Education
McGraw-Hill Education is a content, software and
services-based education company that draws on its more than 100
years of educational expertise to offer solutions, which improve
learning outcomes around the world. McGraw-Hill is the
adaptive education technology leader with the vision for creating a
highly personalized learning experience that prepares students of
all ages for the world that awaits. The company has offices
across North America, India, China,
Europe, the Middle East and South America, and makes its learning
solutions available in more than 65 languages. For additional
information, visit www.mheducation.com.
About Pearson Education
Pearson, the world's leading learning company, has global
reach and market-leading businesses in education, business
information and consumer publishing (NYSE: PSO). The company
provides innovative print and digital education materials,
including personalized learning programs such as MyLab/Mastering,
education services including custom publishing, and
content-independent platforms including the EQUELLA digital
repository and Pearson LearningStudio online learning platform
About Wiley
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., has been a
valued source of information and understanding for more than 200
years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill
their aspirations. Wiley's core businesses include
scientific, technical, medical and scholarly (STMS) journals,
encyclopedias, books and online products and services;
professional/trade books, subscription products, training
materials, online applications and Web sites; and educational
materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong
learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, N.J., with operations in the U.S.,
Europe, Asia, Canada
and Australia. The company's Web
site can be accessed at www.wiley.com. The company is listed
on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and
JWb.
SOURCE Cengage Learning