User:Simon/Workshop Bodo Balasz

Workshop with economist Bodo Balasz, whose research is on shadow libraries and the forces that drive them, taking the point of view that "if you do not understand the black market, you can not organize legality". Bodo has examined the dataset of a mirror of Library Genesis, analaysing features using a browser-based interactive python server.

Interestingly, the process of duplication differs historically between Eastern and Western countries due to cultural and technological differences. In the East (particularly in Russia and eastern bloc countries) texts were initially re-typed. This follows the tradition established in samizdat publishing of duplicating texts by hand. The need to have developed systems of private distribution was higher in former Soviet countries. In the West, most texts were photocopied or scanned initially, due to cheaper access to the technology.