Samizdat

3 definitions found

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  samizdat
       n : a system of clandestine printing and distribution of
           dissident or banned literature [syn: {underground press}]

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:



  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.
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  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)