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by SagelyGuru 4855 days ago
Aaron downloaded many research papers which, individually, he had every right to do. I remember it and at the time it was quite clear that the reason he needed so many papers was because he was doing statistical research on them - establishing how many were publicly funded.

However, we now know that he was a target for a political trial, so it was clearly imperative that some 'bad intent' be found to boost the charges to 14 counts with the total of 50 years in prison that had driven him to suicide. Having laws that make an intent alone (to make publicly funded work available to the public) into a crime has made this possible, of course.

Anyone trying to justify this, while making a living off the technological revolution made possible by free exchange of scientific knowledge which Aaron was trying to defend, is a shill in my book.