samizdat
[Russian, literally "self publishing"] n. 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, 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, the)
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.
