Download and convert an academic paper to markdown format by its ID. Returns full paper content including title, abstract, sections, and references. Supports ArXiv (e.g.,
AI agents call get_paper_by_id to retrieve information from Paperclip without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and transforms existing academic paper data into a different format (markdown) for presentation purposes. There are no side effects, no data modification, no code execution, and no destructive operations. It is a straightforward read operation that queries a paper repository by ID and returns the content.
From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'Download and convert an academic paper to markdown format by its ID' and 'Returns full paper content'.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_paper_by_id gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Paperclip, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for get_paper_by_id:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get_paper_by_id": {}
}
}get_paper_by_id is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Download and convert an academic paper to markdown format by its ID. Returns full paper content including title, abstract, sections, and references. Supports ArXiv (e.g.,. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Paperclip MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Paperclip MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_paper_by_id: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Paperclip. Nothing to install.
get_paper_by_id is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the get_paper_by_id rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for get_paper_by_id. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
get_paper_by_id is provided by the Paperclip MCP server (matsjfunke/paperclip). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Paperclip, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
5 Paperclip tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.