Sharing Knowledge, for a Price - The New York Times

" ... Some proponents of open access apparently believe that thievery can somehow be justified in the pursuit of knowledge ... The Times itself exemplifies that copyright enforcement is critical to protect quality content. In the same way that Times articles have infinitely more credibility than anonymous blog postings — so much so that more than a million people pay for access — articles in peer-reviewed journals reflect the application of stringent editorial standards and substantial publisher investment. There is an ongoing debate about the right way to engage in open access publishing, but theft of intellectual property cannot be a legitimate option. While we may be drawn to the fantasy of Robin Hood, it is easy to see the danger of putting one individual’s idea of right and wrong ahead of society’s democratically enforced laws. Stealing intellectual property, whether motivated by profit or the urge to share knowledge, has the same damaging result: The economic incentive and ability to continue producing great works — works that educate, explain great discoveries, reveal life-changing treatments — are significantly undermined ..."