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
<or>
Future 2- Technologies of Control
The Internet: Two Possible Futures
Future 1- Increased individual freedom
<or>
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
RivalrousOnce consumed, cease to exist
NonrivalrousOnce 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.
- Control/Freedom +
Content -/+
Code -/+
Physical -/+
The Internet of Old
The Internet previously combined freedom
and control in a way that maximized
innovation.
free or
controlled----->
free-------------->
controlled----->
Content +/Code +
Physical -
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.”
controlled----->
controlled----->
controlled----->
Content +/Code +
Physical -
Increased
copyright
e.g., QoS
wires/computers
under govt. &
individual
control
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?