Pathfinder Press vs. Free Dissemination of Marxism On the Internet
Messages of support to
the Marxists Internet Archive
The following is a small sample of the letters from around the
world in support of the free dissemination of Marxist writings
on the Internet. These messages were sent unsolicited by the
readers of the MIA in response to the threat of legal action by
Pathfinder Press in the United States against the MIA for
placing on our web site writings of Bolshevik Leon Trotsky that
Pathfinder claims are under their copyright. The MIA is
presenting these for information purposes only. We do not
endorse or recommend the specific actions that our readers have
taken or advocate in response to these legal threats by a
supposed "socialist" publishing house.
The Marxists Internet Archive has always stated it will respect, albeit not
necessarily agree with, these copyright laws. We have always
agreed to remove any works that copyright holders have asked to
remove. Usually, this involves a phone call or letter from the
party in question. Pathfinder, however, has used high price New
York lawyers to write an intimidating
letter, with the clear threat of legal action against us, in
order to achieve this end.
Additionally, the MIA believes in the free dissemination of Marxist
writings on the Internet. This runs counter to capitalist
intellectual property laws such as the US copyright statutes. We
believe no one should imprison the writings of Marxists such as
Leon Trotsky within the legal net of US commercial
publishing. Certainly the irony of a so-called socialist
publishing house such as Pathfinder Press employing such legal
recourse is lost on few people.
We can only hope that we are able to work out an arrangement with
Pathfinder Press so that the electronic dissemination of Marxist
writings can be fostered, rather than hindered, as is now the
case. . . .
From Canadian Trade Unionist
Subject: In Solidarity
Date: 10/19/00 9:13 AM
Received: 10/19/00 9:41 AM
From: Alex Grant, alex@newyouth.com
To: director@marxists.org
Dear MIA
I am writing to give support for your webpage. After having heard
from the www.marxist.com website that you are being sued for
reprinting Trotsky's works I wrote a message of protest to
Pathfinder (see below). The archive is a great resource, keep
up the good work, it makes alot of difference in many workers
lives. If there are additional ways I can help out them please
ask.
In solidarity
Alex Grant
Dear Comrades
I am writing in a state of shock. I have just heard that you are
sueing the Marxist Internet Archive for publishing
some of Trotsky's works that you have copyright for.
Every genuine revolutionary must agree that these
works must have the widest readership possible, to
resort to capitalist legality to stop this is the
height of hypocracy. Your books are typically quite
expensive and the MIA is an increadible resource for
socialists who cannot afford them - especially in the
colonial world. Access to Marxist works must not be
limited to professors and well-off students. Even
capitalists have realised that releasing something for
free on the net increases the interest and people will
buy the hard copy. I have worked in Solidarity with
your comrades in Vancouver and I find them to be
committed workers for socialism, why do you sully
their reputation? Trotsky himself said that he did
not want the copyright to his own works, the only
pieces with any restrictions were those commissioned
for CAPITALIST enterprises. Who's side are you on?
Please drop this litigation immediately.
yours in protest
Alex Grant
President, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2278
From an Internet 'community'
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2000 22:51:28 GMT
From: Jason Fantus <jfantus@softhome.net>
To: director@marxists.org
Subject: A Message of support
Hello, we are writing to you in support of the MIA in light of the
recent atempts by the Pathfinder Press and American SWP to remove some 
of Trotsky's (and others) works due to copyright violations. We write on
behalf of an online Marxist forum called 'Commie Love',
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/commielove, We are comprised of over 400
members including 6 founders (listed below) who moderate the forum
which has been on the net for over 2 years. So this issue is of
particular outrage to us as we are work everyday to spread the ideas of
Marxism which includes most importantly in this year, the works of
Trotsky. We feel this is an outrage for that the Pathfinder press pursue
such measures for it's own sectarian and monetary gain against the
largest Marxist archive on the Internet. Of course, Trotsky himself did
sue some bourgeoise papers for reprinting his material but obviously
that was not against fellow Marxists! If the SWP even feels like
calling themselves that now. So, we would like to express our full
solidarity with your website against the legal maneuvering of the
Pathfinder Press, as it is quite disheartening that people are
decending to such low depths.
It is no wonder some of Trotsky's books are so expensive to buy, as
they are putting such important works at risk for their petty little
power matches!
Please email if there is anything we could do to help out, no doubt we
will be mailing pathfinder press airing our disgust and protest.
No one group or person has the right to prohibit another from spreading
the ideas of Trostky or any other Marxist for that matter!
Comradely,
Adina Storm (adinastorm@yahoo.com)
Filip Staes (tatlin666@yahoo.com)
Phil Hamilton (MHDasein@yahoo.com)
Jan Van Riet (lotek1789@yahoo.com)
Eric Robtertson (e_robtertson@yahoo.com)
Jason Fantus (jfantus@softhome.net)
From a Brazilain Communist
Subject: Freedom to Trotsky!
Date: 10/20/00 4:14 AM
Received: 10/20/00 8:18 AM
From: josepva@ig.com.br
To: pathfinder@igc.apc.org
Estimated members of Pathfinder Press,
I sended this E-Mail to you to beg, to implore to free the Leon Trotsky
texts. Itīs important for the entire communist movement in the World to gain
access to this texts and the MIA site is doing a important job in such way.
The only reasonable explanation for your represantion against MIA is
that you need funding for the work of spreeding the Trotsky works as well.
But doing this you become anti-democrathic, and are not allowing people from
other parts of the World to have access to the texts.
Please, free Trotsky and allow everybody to know the truth! I really
beg you for.
Thanks in advance!
José Paulo Vidal Amaral
Partizan of the Brazilian Comunist Party
From Romanian Trotskyist
Subject: From Gabriel, Rumania
Date: 10/19/00 10:52 AM
Received: 10/19/00 11:00 AM
From: Artigue Carro Gabriel, artigue_carro@cabletv.ro
To: sedowa@crosswinds.net
director@marxists.org
Jorn Andersen, jorn@marxists.org
Dear comrades:
I will download a zip file and put it as soon as possible in my web site (http://www.geocities.com/psr_bl).
It is a shame that a "left" organization proceedes this way. Trotsky is nobody's private property (!), and the people of the american SWP will have to understand it. I am with you in this conflict, which is, under its own shape, undoubtedly a class conflict. To forbid anyone to read Trotsky for free is an action directed clearly against the emancipation of the working class, and to help the capitalist system.
I wish you succes in your fight against this bourgeois agent, the american SWP and Pathfinder.
With warmest Bolshevik-Leninist greetings,
Gabriel Artigue Carro
Rumania
Letter from Gabriel to SWP-US:
Subject: From Rumania.
Date: 10/19/00 10:56 AM
Received: 10/19/00 11:00 AM
From: Artigue Carro Gabriel, artigue_carro@cabletv.ro
To: pathfinder@igc.apc.org
TheMilitant@compuserve.com
director@marxists.org
Jorn Andersen, jorn@marxists.org
To the American SWP:
Are you a left party or what? Is not it in the interest of the emancipation of the working class that Trotsky and other fighters of the Fourth International be read for free?
I think your decision of taking legal actions against the MIA is a misunderstanding and that you will correct it soon.
Gabriel Artigue Carro
Independent Trotskyist militant
Bucharest, Rumania
From Britain
From: David Milsom
To: pathfinder@igc.apc.org ; TheMilitant@compuserve.com
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2000 7:57 PM
Subject: Banning Trotsky
I write to protest at you attempt to use capitalist copywrite laws to ban some of Trotsky's writings from the internet,
Why has your organisation done this when you don't even support his ideas any more?
From a Swedish socialist
D Milsom
Sheffield
UK
Subject: message of solidarity
Date: 10/22/00 7:10 AM
Received: 10/22/00 5:05 PM
From: Henrik Wolgast, henwo@hotmail.com
To: director@marxists.org
I very much support your struggle for the free spreading of marxist ideas
and I find the actions of the SWP(inc)almost hard to believe.
rector@marxists.org
I have sent the folloxing message to SWP
"I am a member of the social democratic youth organisation of Sweden and I
would like to strongly protest against your attempt to restrict the spreading
of Marxist ideas . Itīs absolutely astonishing and tragic that a "socialist"
organisation for whatever motive possible is ready to make it harder for the
toiling people of the world to get to know the genuine ideas of Marxism.
What are you thinking of???? The goal of a socialist transformation of
society must always be put in the first place and itīs tragically obvious
that this is not the case in the actions youīre planning you take!
rector@marxists.org
Think again. What side are you on??"
Hang on comrades!!
Henrik Wolgast
(SSU Sweden)
From a supporter in Belgium
Subject: MIA
Date: 10/20/00 9:30 AM
Received: 10/20/00 9:39 AM
From: Nick Deschacht, nicktijdelijk@yahoo.com
To: pathfinder@igc.apc.org
'SWP Inc.', TheMilitant@compuserve.com
Dear Sir or Madam,
I would like to protest against the legal actions that you are planning to undertake against the Marxist Internet Archive. "Intellectual property" is reactionary. It does more damage than good. It is bad enough, if not surprising, when capitalist corporations make use of these methods. But it is a scandal when an organisation that calls itself socialist subordinates the distribution of socialist ideas to its own commercial interests.
Studentenvakbond - Free University of Brussels - Belgium
Nick Deschacht
Contact the Marxists Internet Archive Admin Committee for further information