(MCT) — CHICAGO — Aaron Swartz, the Highland Park, Ill.-raised advocate for Internet openness, took his own life Friday under the shadow of a federal prosecution for allegedly downloading nearly 5 million academic journal articles without authorization. But with his death, his cause has gained new momentum.

Hundreds of researchers Monday posted links to free copies of their work in an online tribute to Swartz, while some who promote open access to academic papers say the movement might have reached a turning point.