As sibling poster pointed out, the researchers themselves likely would prefer that their work be available to all, and that it is not will be by decree of someone other than themselves.
In that vein, I have never once failed (across at least several dozen attempts) to obtain a gratis copy of a paper by writing an author directly, even if I don't have access to the journal which published it. More often than not the researcher has been thrilled to have been contacted by a random person with interest in their work; I've had some interesting personal interactions and several times had follow-up questions answered. I highly recommend doing this.
Edit: you probably know this. I'm posting my experience for the benefit of others who may come across these comments. Most people in academia are nerds at heart, and very nice to anyone who shares their interests.
This is only because very few people actually do so. If even all of HN readers did this regularly some researchers on popular subjects would get annoyed at all the requests.
> If even all of HN readers did this regularly some researchers on popular subjects would get annoyed at all the requests.
True. That is the reason why I haven't shared the email I found for example.
I think that is why being polite, and civil is such a key thing in this. Also understanding that the researcher who you reached out to might not have the bandwidth to answer you. (They have term papers to grade, and classes to prepare for, and articles to write/review and who knows what else.) One can send an even more polite follow up email a few weeks later. And maybe a third one a year later kind of a "here is where I got with the project" kind. But keeping it polite, civilised, and low volume is the right way to go about it. And definitely not demanding anything or having an expectation of them even answering.
It is kind of a special case of the golden rule. Write the letter you yourself would be happy receiving.
Curiously enough, I've recently been on the receiving end of something like this. Someone found the website I've maintained for a long-since mothballed creative project. He then found my personal email address (not hard, though it's not posted on that site), and has been sending me his own absolutely wackadoodle theories. His messages are too long to do more than skim, but not frequent enough to be more annoying than they are entertaining - but I've very deliberately not replied. So... Top tip: don't be That Guy.
In that vein, I have never once failed (across at least several dozen attempts) to obtain a gratis copy of a paper by writing an author directly, even if I don't have access to the journal which published it. More often than not the researcher has been thrilled to have been contacted by a random person with interest in their work; I've had some interesting personal interactions and several times had follow-up questions answered. I highly recommend doing this.
Edit: you probably know this. I'm posting my experience for the benefit of others who may come across these comments. Most people in academia are nerds at heart, and very nice to anyone who shares their interests.