WASHINGTON, June 28, 2017 — On June 23, 2017, the American Chemical Society (ACS) filed suit in the United States District Court Eastern District of Virginia against unnamed confederates of Sci-Hub, a self-proclaimed web pirate organization that steals and then illegally reproduces and disseminates copyrighted scientific research articles on the internet. The suit asserts infringement of the professional Society’s copyrights, as well as counterfeiting and infringement of its trademarks.

“ACS discovered that in order to lure users to its illegitimate sources of the Society’s stolen content, Sci-Hub conspirators most recently created ‘spoofed’ websites that mirror the look and feel of the Society’s own scientific publishing website,” says Glenn Ruskin, director, ACS External Affairs & Communications. “Through these pirate sites, Sci-Hub illegally distributes copyrighted scientific journal articles and book content stolen from ACS. The Sci-Hub pirate sites also have illegally counterfeited and replicated a number of protected trademarks of ACS.”

In its complaint, ACS asks the court to rule in its favor on claims which include copyright infringement and trademark counterfeiting and infringement, and to direct Sci-Hub to:

Immediately cease illegal distribution of ACS copyrighted materials

Immediately cease illegal use of ACS’ trademarks and false representation

Pay damages to the Society

Forfeit any revenues from illegal distribution of ACS copyrighted materials

Pay the Society’s legal fees with interest

By its own admission, Sci-Hub claims to hold more than 58 million peer-reviewed scientific articles stolen from various scientific publishers, which it makes openly available in violation of U.S. and other international copyright laws.

“ACS provides a variety of subscription and open access licensing options to enable the broad dissemination of the scientific information that is curated by the Society,” says Thomas Connelly Jr., Ph.D., ACS executive director and CEO. “Sustaining our Society’s ability to provide important publishing services to the global chemistry enterprise requires that ACS be diligent in protecting its intellectual property interests as protected under copyright law. This litigation underscores that commitment to our members and other stakeholders.”