Deleting Knowledge

Library.nu Has Been Removed

Social Issues – The disappearance of a worldwide library called Library.nu, which contained digital tomes ranging from out of print math books to technical manuals, has made quite the stir. The content was scholarly in every sense of the word, however, there was just one problem; every book posted was a pirated work.

The worldwide middle class, who do not have tons of money to spend, were some of the main users of Library.nu followed by those in countries where knowledge isn’t always considered power. Countries such as India, those in Africa, China, the South American countries, and Russia, to name just a few were home to followers of the site. However, the people who visited frequently had a thirst for knowledge which wasn’t able to be quenched by standard means and were only trying to educate themselves, a mantra that is constantly repeated even in their home countries where some scholarly books may be banned.

Not unlike Napster, which was accused of pirating music in 2000, library.nu’s shutdown was seen as a major triumph by publishing houses that were being cheated from revenue when their books were sold. So it all comes down to money in the end; those who don’t make it when one of their books is sold and those who don’t have enough of it to begin with.

Read more at AlJazeera.