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'''Lessig, Defining the Commons'''
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=Lessig, Defining the Commons=


''Rough approach at a definition of a commons'': ''a resource, permission to which is granted neutrally and which is known to be granted neutrally. Commons are sustained through both norms and architecture (sometimes built from a base of private, exclusive resources), and exhibit transparency, modularity, portability, innovativeness, and openness.''
''Rough approach at a definition of a commons'': ''a resource, permission to which is granted neutrally and which is known to be granted neutrally. Commons are sustained through both norms and architecture (sometimes built from a base of private, exclusive resources), and exhibit transparency, modularity, portability, innovativeness, and openness.''


 
==Notice what this definition of the commons does not mention==
''Notice what this definition of the commons does not mention'':
 
* common ownership
* common ownership
* rules for using the resource
* rules for using the resource
* symmetric control
* symmetric control


'''Permission rights must be ''granted neutrally'', and must be ''known to be granted neutrally'''''
==Permission rights must be ''granted neutrally'', and must be ''known to be granted neutrally''==
 
* permission, if necessary, is granted neutrally
* permission, if necessary, is granted neutrally
* commons requires open accessibility
* commons requires open accessibility
* it's not just that people don't need permission – it's that they ''know'' that they don't need permission, and is the fact that they know they never will that inspires innovation in a commons
* it's not just that people don't need permission – it's that they ''know'' that they don't need permission, and is the fact that they know they never will that inspires innovation in a commons


'''No ''individual dictator'' can withhold a common resource from others (leaves open the possibility of a group withholding the resource from others)'''
==Withholding==
 
*No ''individual dictator'' can withhold a common resource from others (leaves open the possibility of a group withholding the resource from others)'''
* no exclusive right to choose whether the resource is made available to others
* no exclusive right to choose whether the resource is made available to others
* direction of the permission: it's that everyone has a right to use the resource, it's ''not'' that no one has a right to stop someone from using a resource.
* direction of the permission: it's that everyone has a right to use the resource, it's ''not'' that no one has a right to stop someone from using a resource.
* for their own survival, commons projects usually lean towards democratic control
* for their own survival, commons projects usually lean towards democratic control


'''Commons can have ''limited communities'''''
==Commons can have ''limited communities''==
 
* commons can be limited to a relevant community
* commons can be limited to a relevant community


'''Commons regulated through ''norms'' and ''architecture'''''
==Commons regulated through ''norms'' and ''architecture''==
 
* rivalrous commons can be sustained through norms
* rivalrous commons can be sustained through norms
* commons can be ''formed'' through both norms and technical architecture
* commons can be ''formed'' through both norms and technical architecture
* implicit: commons requires a shared background knowledge
* implicit: commons requires a shared background knowledge


'''Commons can ''exist on top of'' ''exclusive resources'' (phone lines, GNU licenses, etc.)'''
==Commons can ''exist on top of'' ''exclusive resources'' (phone lines, GNU licenses, etc.)==
 
* commons can exist upon a layer of control
* commons can exist upon a layer of control
* open and closed systems by necessity exist together
* open and closed systems by necessity exist together
* licenses can be used to keep things in the commons
* licenses can be used to keep things in the commons


'''Commons require ''transparency'', ''modularity'', and ''portability'' to be truly common'''
==Commons require ''transparency'', ''modularity'', and ''portability'' to be truly common''==
 
* commons seems to require transparency, modularity, and portability
* commons seems to require transparency, modularity, and portability


'''Commons resources are often ''more valuable when held in common'''''
==Commons resources are often ''more valuable when held in common''==
 
* two reasons we have traditionally put resources into common ownership: (1) the resource can be monopolized and used against the public, and (2) the properties are most valuable when held in common.
* two reasons we have traditionally put resources into common ownership: (1) the resource can be monopolized and used against the public, and (2) the properties are most valuable when held in common.
* it is sometimes more efficient to hold a property in common than exclusively
* it is sometimes more efficient to hold a property in common than exclusively
* Sometimes we want to put a resource in common ownership because the resource becomes more valuable when more people use it.
* Sometimes we want to put a resource in common ownership because the resource becomes more valuable when more people use it.


'''You must be able to ''innovate upon'' common resources'''
==You must be able to ''innovate upon'' common resources''==
 
* commons resources can be tinkered with
* commons resources can be tinkered with
* innovation commons allows building upon past resources
* innovation commons allows building upon past resources


'''Commons resources ''cannot be (easily) manipulated'' against competing resources'''
==Commons resources ''cannot be (easily) manipulated'' against competing resources==
 
* commons resources cannot be used strategically
* commons resources cannot be used strategically
* putting a resource in the commons checks its power: the resource cannot be used strategically to undermine other resources
* putting a resource in the commons checks its power: the resource cannot be used strategically to undermine other resources


'''Common resources can feature two kinds of ''openness'': (1) ability to take a resource without permission, (2) ability to contribute back to resource without authorization'''
==Common resources can feature two kinds of ''openness''==
 
*(1) ability to take a resource without permission  
* two different kinds of openness: (1) ability to build off a resource without authorization, (2) ability to put the innovation back into the commons without authorization
*(2) ability to contribute back to resource without authorization


=Navigation=


[[Defining the Commons]]<br>
Back to [[Defining the Commons]]<br>
[[Main Page]]
Back to [[Industrial Cooperation Project]]<br>
Back to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 18:11, 19 May 2010

Lessig, Defining the Commons

Rough approach at a definition of a commons: a resource, permission to which is granted neutrally and which is known to be granted neutrally. Commons are sustained through both norms and architecture (sometimes built from a base of private, exclusive resources), and exhibit transparency, modularity, portability, innovativeness, and openness.

Notice what this definition of the commons does not mention

  • common ownership
  • rules for using the resource
  • symmetric control

Permission rights must be granted neutrally, and must be known to be granted neutrally

  • permission, if necessary, is granted neutrally
  • commons requires open accessibility
  • it's not just that people don't need permission – it's that they know that they don't need permission, and is the fact that they know they never will that inspires innovation in a commons

Withholding

  • No individual dictator can withhold a common resource from others (leaves open the possibility of a group withholding the resource from others)
  • no exclusive right to choose whether the resource is made available to others
  • direction of the permission: it's that everyone has a right to use the resource, it's not that no one has a right to stop someone from using a resource.
  • for their own survival, commons projects usually lean towards democratic control

Commons can have limited communities

  • commons can be limited to a relevant community

Commons regulated through norms and architecture

  • rivalrous commons can be sustained through norms
  • commons can be formed through both norms and technical architecture
  • implicit: commons requires a shared background knowledge

Commons can exist on top of exclusive resources (phone lines, GNU licenses, etc.)

  • commons can exist upon a layer of control
  • open and closed systems by necessity exist together
  • licenses can be used to keep things in the commons

Commons require transparency, modularity, and portability to be truly common

  • commons seems to require transparency, modularity, and portability

Commons resources are often more valuable when held in common

  • two reasons we have traditionally put resources into common ownership: (1) the resource can be monopolized and used against the public, and (2) the properties are most valuable when held in common.
  • it is sometimes more efficient to hold a property in common than exclusively
  • Sometimes we want to put a resource in common ownership because the resource becomes more valuable when more people use it.

You must be able to innovate upon common resources

  • commons resources can be tinkered with
  • innovation commons allows building upon past resources

Commons resources cannot be (easily) manipulated against competing resources

  • commons resources cannot be used strategically
  • putting a resource in the commons checks its power: the resource cannot be used strategically to undermine other resources

Common resources can feature two kinds of openness

  • (1) ability to take a resource without permission
  • (2) ability to contribute back to resource without authorization

Navigation

Back to Defining the Commons
Back to Industrial Cooperation Project
Back to Main Page