Educational Publishers Obtain Preliminary Injunction Against 231 Websites Illegally Selling Test Answers and Solution Manuals

November 19, 2020 - The Educational Publishers Enforcement Group (EPEG) publishers, consisting of Pearson, Cengage, Elsevier, Macmillan Learning, and McGraw Hill, have obtained a Preliminary Injunction from the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the operators of 231 websites that sell illegal, unlicensed copies of test banks and instructor solutions manuals.  These materials are for teaching professionals’ use and are not sold to students or made publicly available by EPEG publishers.  The unauthorized sale of these materials not only violates the publishers’ intellectual property rights, but undermines academic integrity and pedagogy.  The publishers have taken action to address this issue and reduce the availability of these infringing materials online.

EPEG publishers filed suit for copyright and trademark infringement against the defendants who operate these websites on October 9, 2020, and on the same date obtained a Temporary Restraining Order that required the immediate shutdown of the infringing activity on the websites, as well as the cessation of the services that support the illegal websites. With the Preliminary Injunction, that injunctive relief has now been extended through the duration of the litigation. This is the fourth suit since November 2019 that EPEG publishers have brought against operators of websites selling infringing digital content, and the fourth time they have successfully obtained a Preliminary Injunction.

About Cengage

Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. As the largest US-based provider of teaching and learning materials for higher education, we offer valuable options at affordable price points. Our industry-leading initiatives include Cengage Unlimited, the first-of-its-kind all-access digital subscription service. We embrace innovation to create learning experiences that build confidence and momentum toward the future students want. Headquartered in Boston, Cengage also serves K-12, library and workforce training markets around the world. Visit us at Cengage.com or find us on Facebook or Twitter.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a global information analytics business that helps scientists and clinicians to find new answers, reshape human knowledge, and tackle the most urgent human crises. For 140 years, we have partnered with the research world to curate and verify scientific knowledge. Today, we’re committed to bringing that rigor to a new generation of platforms. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support, and professional education; including ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath. Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, 39,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray’s Anatomy. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professionals and business customers across industries. www.elsevier.com.

About Macmillan Learning

Macmillan Learning is a privately held, family owned company that improves lives through learning. By linking research to learning practice, we develop pioneering products and learning materials for students that are highly effective and drive improved outcomes. Our engaging content is developed in partnership with the world’s best researchers, educators, administrators and developers. To learn more, please visit www.macmillanlearning.com or see us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or join our Macmillan Community.