Book Review The Future of Ideas: The Fate of the Commons in a Connected World By Lawrence Lessig Heather Nodler INF 385Q - KM Systems Dr. Don Turnbull April 12, 2005

The Internet: Two Possible Futures Future 1- Increased individual freedom Future 2- Technologies of Control

The Internet: Two Possible Futures Future 1- Increased individual freedom Future 2- Technologies of Control

The Commons “a resource to which anyone within the relevant community has a right without obtaining the permission of anyone else. In some cases, permission is needed but is granted in a neutral way.”

Resources in the Commons Rivalrous- Once consumed, cease to exist Nonrivalrous- Once consumed, still exist

Tragedy of the Commons In a world of commonly held resources, each individual feels compelled to limitlessly consume commonly held resources, resulting in ruin for all.

The Internet of Yesteryear Once an “innovation commons,” the Internet has been transformed by the institutions that dominate the physical world.

Layers Any communications system is comprised of a series of stacked “layers.” Content Code Physical

Layers and Innovation Each layer can be free or controlled. Different combinations can promote or stifle innovation. Content -/+ Code -/+ Physical -/+ - Control/Freedom +

The Internet of Old The Internet previously combined freedom and control in a way that maximized innovation. Content +/- Code + Physical - free or controlled-----> free > controlled-----> e.g. HTML, TCP/IP wires/computers under govt. & individual control

The New Internet The new Internet is increasingly controlled at all layers, stifling innovation and creating a new information “dark age.” Content +/- Code + Physical - controlled-----> e.g., QoS wires/computers under govt. & individual control Increased copyright

e2e End-to-end (e2e) principle of TCP/IP ensured information traveled freely, without discrimination from the network, encouraging new applications and innovations.

Internet Innovations HTML Books MP3s Low-cost media authoring/dist. P2P Distributed computing Personalized content

Factors Threatening Freedom of Internet Code becoming less free (e.g., QoS solutions) IP laws expanded Governments and corporations monitoring and filtering traffic, threatening privacy Providers (e.g., cable companies) regulating network use.

Institutions Threatening Internet Telecom giants Government Software companies Internet service providers

Old vs. New From many-to-many communication......to many ways to buy things (or “TV on speed”)

Possible Solutions Compensation without control Neutral platforms Open source code Corporate respect for e2e philosophy Community-oriented distribution of spectrum for wireless commons Government-sponsored infrastructure

Questions for Discussion Could the Internet of old accurately be described as an “innovation commons?” Is Lessig right---is the Internet less free than it once was? Does this in fact stifle innovation? If so, what should be done to save it?