Letter from Breakout Learning CEO, Ramit Varma

To the academic community - 

Many of you received a version of the email below from Harvard Business Publishing reiterating their terms and conditions as they relate to the sharing of or distributing of HBP materials.

As the founder and CEO of Breakout Learning, let me be clear - we have the utmost respect for the intellectual property rights of HBP (and all publishers) and we wholeheartedly support HBP's reminder about their terms of use.  For our instructional design purposes, we neither request, nor need access to any materials in order to create small group discussions based on any extant material.  The company's point of view on this has been reiterated internally as a quarterly 'copyrighted materials audit' to ensure that we do not accept or hold any inadvertently offered materials.

That said, for the avoidance of doubt -  There is absolutely no copyright issue with a professor choosing Breakout Learning to design a discussion based on any source material (including but not limited to published cases, articles, books, textbooks, etc.)  Assigning small group discussion activities is a fundamental right of any professor, and neither Harvard, nor anyone else, can limit your ability to design and manage a discussion activity.

Harvard invented the case study method over 100 years ago and have defined a century of business leaders.  We respect this immensely and are flattered by Harvard’s recognition of our product as a leader in AI based learning tools.  But I think their reprimand about sharing PDFs misses a fundamental point.  

Progress is a tide that raises all ships.  In this instance, the irony is that using Breakout Learning to complement Harvard cases actually benefits Harvard.  Since the launch of ChatGPT, many of our professors have observed a dramatic decline in the number of their students actually purchasing course packs - likely a consequence of widespread content piracy.  Students would typically show up to class with virtually identical “talking points” (clearly LLM outputs).  However, in classrooms where professors have assigned Breakout Learning discussions, the number of students purchasing materials jumps correspondingly.  Whether it’s because we require the student to assert that they have legally obtained any source material, or that they want to be actually prepared for their discussion, the outcome is the same - engaged, prepared students who pay for their source materials.

We started Breakout Learning because of a crisis in student engagement.  When faced with reading a 30 page PDF or asking AI for a summary, this generation, raised on devices, and trained to manage the cacophony of demands on their attention, will nearly always choose the summary, thereby bypassing a real learning opportunity.

However, this generation of students will engage in passionate discussion when they have something to say.  In a small group, every voice is valued, and an individual’s opinion matters.  That is why we see 90+% completion and participation rates in Breakout assignments.  And the impact on the classroom discussions that follow is equally stunning.  We are moving students away from coasting and cheating using Ai tools and towards real human connection.  What could be more important?

To address this topic and additional growing questions around the future of publishing and IP in the age of AI, we will be hosting a discussion on Wednesday, October 15, 11am CT with senior leadership from McGraw-Hill and Cheryl Costantini, former Cengage executive. I have invited senior representatives from other major publishers, including Harvard Business Publishing, and the panel will be moderated by Andrew Jack, Senior Education editor at the Financial Times. I also invite YOU to join the conversation.

Discussion Topics:

1. Generational differences: are today’s students truly different, or does every generation feel “different?”
2. Traditional materials: how can textbooks and case studies be reimaged to better serve students and professors?
3. AI and technology: how should educators adapt to meet evolving student needs?
4. Authentic engagement: what approaches foster deeper student engagement?
5. Copyright & course materials: how can faculty balance innovation with respect for intellectual property?

Respectfully,

Ramit Varma, CEO Breakout Learning

HBP Notice to Customers 

Dear [Professor Redacted],

It has come to the attention of Harvard Business Publishing (HBP) that one or more of the educator account holders may have been sharing or distributing HBP materials to a company called Breakout Learning. Breakout Learning is not a partner or authorized representative of HBP.  We are therefore sending out this notice to subscribers and customers to make clear that you may not share HBP content with Breakout Learning or any other third parties without HBP’s knowledge and consent. This includes, but not limited to, cases and teaching notes.

Under the terms of use as listed on our website, https://hbsp.harvard.edu/terms-of-use, you may only share HBP content with faculty, staff and students of your own institution. You may not share or distribute HBP materials with any third parties. To do so is a breach of the terms of use. 

If Breakout Learning or any third party approaches you about sharing or using HBP materials, for any purpose, such requests should be forwarded directly to me.

We’re genuinely grateful for your partnership and the opportunity to work with you. Your satisfaction and trust are incredibly important to us. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

[Redacted]

Intellectual Property Manager

Harvard Business Publishing

Join the Conversation

We’re hosting a candid, faculty-first discussion on AI in Educational Publishing — where AI should (and shouldn’t) fit, how to respect IP, and what actually moves the needle on authentic preparation.

Webinar: AI in Educational Publishing
Date/Time: Wednesday, October 15, 11am CT
Format: Open discussion

Bring your questions, your concerns, and your best ideas. Your perspective belongs in this conversation.