She had the older edition. But the 2023 amendment? That was locked behind a €318 paywall on the IEC website.

Her boss shrugged. “Not our problem. You downloaded it.”

Marta worked through the night, cross-checking tables on voltage withstand levels and clause 443 on transient overvoltages. By dawn, the compliance report was airtight. She submitted it, then collapsed into bed.

She clicked.

Three days later, a registered letter arrived at her office. It was from the IEC’s anti-piracy legal team.

“Unauthorized distribution and download of IEC 60364-4-44 detected from your IP address. Immediate fine: €5,000 or 5 years exclusion from IEC standards purchasing.”