2014-04-26 10:52:28 -04:00
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samizdat
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2014-04-26 11:54:15 -04:00
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/sahmizdaht/ , n. [Russian, literally self publishing ] The process of
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disseminating documentation via underground channels. Originally referred to
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underground duplication and distribution of banned books in the Soviet
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Union; now refers by obvious extension to any less-than-official
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promulgation of textual material, esp. rare, obsolete, or
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never-formally-published computer documentation. Samizdat is obviously much
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easier when one has access to high-bandwidth networks and high-quality laser
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printers. Note that samizdat is properly used only with respect to documents
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which contain needed information (see also hacker ethic ) but which are for
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some reason otherwise unavailable, but not in the context of documents which
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are available through normal channels, for which unauthorized duplication
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would be unethical copyright violation. See Lions Book for a historical
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example.
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