How Scientists Are Circumventing Journal Paywalls (bbc.co.uk)

Bruce66423 writes: Some academics are fighting back against publishers of academic journals by providing copies of papers to researchers who don't have access. For some reason, the publishers aren't happy! Cognitive scientist Andrea Kuszewski said, "Basically you tweet out a link to the paper that you need, with the hashtag and then your email address. And someone will respond to your email and send it to you." That begins the conversation, and then the scientists cover their tracks: "Once contact is made, all subsequent conversation is kept off of social media — instead, scientists correspond via email. The original tweet is deleted, so there's no public record of the paper changing hands. Kuszewski and others say the method is necessary to get up-to-date research in the hands of academics from developing countries, and her and other scientists say they consider the pirating 'civil disobedience' against a system that includes for-profit publishing companies."

Comments

He doesn't deserve a place in this discussion

[damn_registrars]

He broke the law very blatantly. He had other tools available to accomplish the same ends but opted for the one that was maximally disruptive and maximally destructive. If he couldn't stand to represent himself in a court of law then he should have considered other ways to get his message out.

Re:He doesn't deserve a place in this discussion

[damn_registrars]

I am well aware of who he was. He was someone who was more interested in making a name for himself than actually furthering the cause. Comparing him to scientists who dedicate their lives to doing actual work is like comparing the Underwear Bomber to Mother Theresa.