Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 07-20-2011, 08:46 AM

Open-Access Advocate Is Arrested for Huge Download

Quote:

A federal indictment unsealed in Boston on Tuesday morning on charges that the researcher, Aaron Swartz, broke into the computer networks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to gain access to JSTOR, a nonprofit online service for distributing scholarly articles online, and downloaded 4.8 million articles and other documents — nearly the entire library.

Mr. Swartz, 24, made his name as a member of the Internet elite as a teenager when he helped create RSS, a bit of computer code that allows people to receive automatic feeds of online notices and news. Since then, he has emerged as a civil liberties activist who crusades for open access to data.

In 2008, Mr. Swartz released a “Guerrilla Open Access Manifesto,” calling for activists to “fight back” against the sequestering of scholarly papers and information behind pay walls.

Toto · 07-20-2011, 11:41 AM

The activist who downloaded too much

Quote:

Swartz has been involved in numerous efforts to make more information available free to more people. But the charges he faces make no distinction between his possible philosophical goals and any other kind of theft. "Stealing is stealing whether you use a computer command or a crowbar, and whether you take documents, data or dollars. It is equally harmful to the victim whether you sell what you have stolen or give it away," said a statement from U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz.

While Swartz could not be reached for comment, his many fans mobilized support online, charging that the government was essentially treating him as a criminal for violating the terms of service in place at MIT and with JSTOR members. More than 15,000 people signed petitions on his behalf within hours of word of the charges he is facing.

The blog of Demand Progress -- a group Swartz previously led as executive director -- published a statement saying that "he is being charged with allegedly downloading too many scholarly journal articles from the Web. The government contends that downloading said articles is actually felony computer hacking and should be punished with time in prison."

Roger Pearse · 07-20-2011, 01:31 PM

Thanks for highlighting this shameful story, Toto. What the man needs are some good lawyers to challenge the whole basis of the claim to copyright.

Taxes pay for the articles and their authors and probably for some of JSTOR's infrastructure. I sort of thought that, in the US, if the government pay for something, then copyrighting it was illegal?

Doug Shaver · 07-20-2011, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Pearse

I sort of thought that, in the US, if the government pay for something, then copyrighting it was illegal?

Not exactly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyrig....S._government

EmmaZunz · 08-01-2011, 03:54 PM

I don't think that's what a good lawyer would advise him to try!

Minimalist · 08-01-2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

good lawyer

Wait...isn't that an oxymoron?

Oh, I see. You mean "effective lawyer."

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07-20-2011, 01:31 PM	#3
Roger Pearse Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: N/A Posts: 4,370	Thanks for highlighting this shameful story, Toto. What the man needs are some good lawyers to challenge the whole basis of the claim to copyright. Taxes pay for the articles and their authors and probably for some of JSTOR's infrastructure. I sort of thought that, in the US, if the government pay for something, then copyrighting it was illegal?

08-01-2011, 03:54 PM	#5
EmmaZunz Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: UK Posts: 98	I don't think that's what a good lawyer would advise him to try!

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