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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

Sci-Hub Founder Criticises Sudden Twitter Ban Over Over "Counterfeit" Content [torrentfreak.com]

Twitter has suspended the account of Sci-Hub, a site that offers a free gateway to paywalled research. The site is accused of violating the counterfeit policy of the social media platform. However, founder Alexandra Elbakyan believes that this is an effort to silence the growing support amidst a high profile court case in India.

[...] In recent weeks, Sci-Hub has become the focus of a high-profile lawsuit in India [torrentfreak.com] where Elsevier, Wiley, and American Chemical Society want the site blocked. The case isn't as straightforward as in other countries, in part because access to Sci-Hub is seen as vital by many local academics.

Earlier this week, the Indian High Court declared the case an "issue of public importance," inviting experts and scientists to testify on the matter. Meanwhile, however, the pressure on Sci-Hub grows.

Judge: Sci-Hub Blocking Case "Important" For Science, Community Representations Will Be Heard [torrentfreak.com]

A High Court judge says that nineteen scientists and three scientific and medical organizations will have their intervention applications heard before any decision is handed down in the ongoing Sci-Hub blocking case. Filed by several publishers, the lawsuit seeks ISP blocking of the platform in India. Justice JR Midha notes that the case addresses an "issue of public importance."

On December 21, 2020, academic publishers Elsevier, Wiley, and American Chemical Society filed a lawsuit [torrentfreak.com] demanding that Indian ISPs block access to Sci-Hub and Libgen.

[...] As reported [torrentfreak.com] this week, scientists, academics, teachers and students have been applying pressure to have their voices heard in the case. According to them, any blocking of Sci-Hub and Libgen would amount to a denial of access to information crucial to the wellbeing of not only the scientific and research communities but also of India as a whole.

During a hearing yesterday at the Delhi High Court, the publishers hoped to obtain an order to have the platforms and their many domains blocked. However, the presiding judge listened to the calls of the scientific community and agreed that a delay to allow more detailed consideration would be appropriate in this case.

"It is an issue of public importance. It's very important to the scientific community," said [hindustantimes.com] Justice JR Midha.

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