samizdat

/sahmizdaht/ , n. [Russian, literally self publishing ] The process of
disseminating documentation via underground channels. Originally referred to
underground duplication and distribution of banned books in the Soviet
Union; now refers by obvious extension to any less-than-official
promulgation of textual material, esp. rare, obsolete, or
never-formally-published computer documentation. Samizdat is obviously much
easier when one has access to high-bandwidth networks and high-quality laser
printers. Note that samizdat is properly used only with respect to documents
which contain needed information (see also hacker ethic ) but which are for
some reason otherwise unavailable, but not in the context of documents which
are available through normal channels, for which unauthorized duplication
would be unethical copyright violation. See Lions Book for a historical
example.

