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Samizdat - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Samizdat : (noun)
1: a system of clandestine printing and distribution of
dissident or banned literature [syn: underground press]
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Samizdat :
(Russian, literally "self publishing") The
process of disseminating documentation via underground
channels. Originally referred to photocopy duplication and
distribution of banned books in the former Soviet Union; now
refers by obvious extension to any less-than-official
promulgation of textual material, especially 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.
Strictly, "samizdat" only applies to distribution of needed
documents that are otherwise unavailable, and not to
duplication of material that is available for sale under
copyright.
See Lions Book for a historical example.
See also: hacker ethic.
[{Jargon File]
(2000-03-23)
Based on the Online Dictionary of Computing [Computer_Dictionary]:
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Samizdat : /sahm-iz-daht/ 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.
Based on the Online Dictionary of Computing [Computer_Dictionary]:
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