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A comment on Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download millions of JSTOR docs. Parent comment

Re:Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download mill... by bbatsell on Tuesday July 19, 2011 @04:38PM (#2782966)
Swartz's organization seems to pretty clearly claim that both MIT and JSTOR asked the feds not to charge him. While JSTOR's statement doesn't actually say thatº, it certainly seems plausible to me since they very clearly say that they privately engaged and dealt with the matter with Swartz. You simply don't do that if you're pursuing criminal charges.

º I would probably be hesitant to say that publicly as well, considering the feds came down with a monster 35-year indictment against a juicy target. The "victim" announcing on Day 1 that they don't support the charges would not be accepted very charitably by federal prosecutors.

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Re:Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download mill... by Zak on Tuesday July 19, 2011 @05:16PM (#2783115)
Unless JSTOR is itself at risk of prosecution for something, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me that they'd care how Federal prosecutors felt about their public statements.
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Re:Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download mill... by wnoise on Tuesday July 19, 2011 @06:47PM (#2783465)
Everybody is at risk for federal prosecution. Everybody.

http://www.amazon.com/Three-Felonies-Day-Target-Innocent/dp/... http://www.threefelonies.com/Youtoo/tabid/86/Default.aspx

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Re:Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download mill... by jmaygarden on Tuesday July 19, 2011 @11:08PM (#2784149)
I immediately thought of that book as well. As Silverglate frequently points out, the federal attorney is using extreme penalties to force a plea deal in this case. It's de facto denial of a fair trial when the Sword of Damocles (i.e. 35 years in prison) is hanging over your head.
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Re:Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download mill... by thisuser on Tuesday July 19, 2011 @04:56PM (#2783037)
Oh well we can't be upsetting the government. Carry on.
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Re:Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download mill... by stephth on Tuesday July 19, 2011 @05:22PM (#2783135)
That does shed a new light to their statement. Seems like both parties made some lousy calls which led to a very ugly situation.

I don't understand the legal mechanisms that could lead to JSTOR not showing any public support for Aaron, and if those exist, but I hope they will show some support during the process (as well as the MIT). Gov shouldn't put digital theft in the same basket as physical theft.

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Re:Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download mill... by andreyf on Tuesday July 19, 2011 @06:21PM (#2783389)
There are no legal mechanisms, but showing support for someone that intended to destroy the value of their publisher's copyright would probably displease their partners...
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Re:Aaronsw indicted for hacking MIT network to download mill... by andreyf on Wednesday July 20, 2011 @11:45AM (#2786045)
Err, I should have said "someone who is accused of intending..."
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