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COMMONS MAGAZINE

Arts and Culture

Arts and Culture highlights creative work in all mediums and disciplines with a special emphasis on artists, writers, performers, and collectives who blur the lines between art-making, personal activism, and community involvement. As they employ new artistic strategies, contemporary creatives continue to expand the role of arts and culture in public life. This section will feature intriguing and often ground-breaking work and explore how it might illuminate the challenges and opportunities we face as we move toward a commons-based world.

February 1, 2006

Is Stage Direction a Type of Property?

The copyright crisis hits the stage. Theater directors claim their stage directions as intellectual property.
January 25, 2006

The Word of God as Private Property

The Word of God as private property – interesting copyright cases involving religious tracts.
January 19, 2006

Who Owns A Batting Average?

Who owns a batting average? Major League Baseball wants fantasy league fans to pay for using baseball statistics.
December 19, 2005

Tech Businesses Recognize the Power of a Knowledge Commons

Tech businesses recognize the power of the commons to spread knowledge and boost new businesses.
December 15, 2005

Creationism, Evolution and "Metaphysical Repression"

Questions about evolution, creationism, the creator, and the origins of life.
December 13, 2005

The Best Science That Money Can Buy

The best science that money can buy. A new scandal about drug companies placing positive articles about their products in respected medical journals.
November 30, 2005

The End of a Long, Strange Journey?

In a controversial move for a band that viewed its fans as family, the Grateful Dead is trying to stop unauthorized computer downloads of its music.
November 14, 2005

Hollywood Writers Fight a New Godzilla: "Product Integration"

With product placement more pervasive on television, screenwriters say enough is enough. Wal-Mart perfume is plugged on _All My Children_ and Buicks on _Desperate Housewives._
November 11, 2005

Performance Art as Property

Performance artist Marina Abramovic is on the cutting edge of intellectual property rights questions. Can her artistic concepts be coprighted?
November 8, 2005

A Step Toward Open Source Music

The new Magnatune music company brings us a step closer to open-source in the recording industry.