Everyone's downloading pirated science papers... and that might be a good thing

lterrat's bookmarks 2017-03-08

Summary:

"Right now, Alexandra Elbakyan risks financial ruin, extradition, and imprisonment because of a lawsuit launched by Elsevier last year. Yet she’s done so much to advance science it almost seems unreal. Without her work, millions of students and scientists wouldn’t have been able to finish their projects, or it would have taken them immensely more time and effort.

In the first paragraph, I called Sci-Hub 'innovative'. I spent a lot of time thinking about that particular word, and I stand by it. I think this small website founded by a young, frustrated, and creative scientist can make a big difference for people worldwide. Who knows what cure may be developed thanks to a researcher who used Sci-Hub to access papers? Who knows what brilliant mind had access, at the right time, to quality information thanks to Sci-Hub? I’m almost sounding like a paid testimonial here, but I can’t over-emphasize the importance of having timely access to science. Sure, she did put a dent in the profits of companies like Elsevier and Wiley, and she disregarded copyright laws. Does this help advance science? I think the answer is ‘yes’. I don’t know what the future holds for Elbakyan, but Sci-Hub seems here to stay — whether the journals like it or not."

Link:

http://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/scientific-papers-download-07032017/

From feeds:

Open Access Tracking Project (OATP) » lterrat's bookmarks

Tags:

oa.paywalled oa.journals oa.guerrilla

Date tagged:

03/08/2017, 12:46

Date published:

03/08/2017, 07:46