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MIT Drops DRM-Laden Journal Subscription

Posted by kdawson on from the whose-intellectual-property? dept.

Gibbs-Duhem writes with news that MIT has dropped its subscription to the Society of Automotive Engineers' web-based database of technical papers over the issue of DRM. The SAE refuses to allow any online access except through an Adobe DRM plugin that limits use and does not run on Linux or Unix. Also, the SAE refuses to let its papers even be indexed on any site but their own. SAE's use of DRM is peculiar to say the least, as they get their content for free from the researchers who actually do the work. And those researchers have choices as to where they send their work, and some of the MIT faculty are pretty vocal about it. From the MIT Library News: "'It's a step backwards,' says Professor Wai Cheng, SAE fellow and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, who feels strongly enough about the implications of DRM that he has asked to be added to the agenda of the upcoming SAE Publication Board meeting in April, when he will address this topic."

5 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. Re:A Step Forward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    >>I don't necessarily have a problem with profitability and am perfectly happy with a capitalistic approach to academic journals.

    Oh would you shut the fuck up, you communist socialist asshole.

  2. MIT rock. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Places like MIT are the reason why I as a European haven't quite given up totally on the USA, tarnished though it is.

    1. Re:MIT rock. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      Amen to that. My thoughts exactly.

      Kudos to MIT. You've got quite a reputation to live up to!

    2. Re:MIT rock. by Oldav · · Score: -1, Troll

      Big statement from an AC, very courageous, then again what more can you expect from a nation of cowards who are so easily scared into sacrificing freedom and the things you used to pretend to stand for, and who's poor and sick have no proper health care system Bloody retards, you certainly describe yourself when you try to denigrate this guy. We still do hope the US will make the list of countries that can be regarded as civilised one day, but I for one doubt it. In 10 years you will be completely owned by China dumbfuck.

  3. trolL by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    result of a quaarael