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)