|Noun||1.||samizdat - a system of clandestine printing and distribution of dissident or banned literature|
Synonyms: underground press
|(publication)||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.