In fact, the site’s surge in popularity is widely credited to the online popularity of romance author Colleen Hoover. Although Z-library have vaguely stated they will try and be more considerate to authors’ complaints, a quick visit to the site shows most bestsellers available for downloads in seconds. We can then argue that Z-library are doing the opposite of what they promise, as no incentives for writers means less available knowledge, not more. If writers aren’t getting paid, it becomes harder for them to create or fund work. On the other hand, for authors who rely on already meager royalties for a living, sites like Z-library feel like a slap in the face. One top comment on this video on the creators’ arrest reads, ‘Where’s the GoFundMe to donate bc I’m getting this degree bc of them 😌”.Įspecially for those who have not been able to afford textbooks, or to go to school formally, Z-library has been life-changing. It’s easy to see the case for making knowledge freely accessible, especially if you’ve ever paid textbook prices. He is hailed as a hero by his predecessors.

Swartz was tragically found dead of suspected suicide, a few months after being arrested for trying to download the contents of academic library JSTOR for free distribution online. Z-library’s team are part of a long tradition of information activists with similarly held beliefs, the most famous being Aaron Swartz, a ‘hacktivist’ involved in the creation of Reddit, Creative Commons, and the academic parent to Z-Library, lib-gen. ‘This is the only purpose Z-Library is made for.’ ‘We believe the knowledge and cultural heritage of mankind should be accessible to all people around the world, regardless of their wealth, social status, nationality, citizenship,’ the platform said in a statement.

This comeback was clearly a skilled operation, but what is perhaps more impressive is that the people running the site did not back down from serious legal threats.Īlthough Z-library does take in money through user donations and premium accounts, there seems to be deeper held motivations.

Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: Digital Ownership And Piracy: What's Really Yours In A Digital World? ()

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