David Bollier

Herman Daly on the Commonwealth of Nature and Knowledge

October 3, 2005

The father of eco-economics wonders why information is considered scarce and natural resources limitless. Just the opposite is true.

Greedy Publishers Spur the Open-Source Textbook Movement

September 28, 2005

Textbooks are a goldmine for publishers and an increasing economic burden for students. But open-source might change all that.

Webcasting Treaty Would Seize Rights from Creators and the Public

September 20, 2005

In the latest corporate raid on the cultural commons, the U.S. is promoting a treaty that would allow the "enclosure" of works already in the public domain.

The Collective Wellsprings of Creativity

August 29, 2005

Are Remixes Novelties or a Durable Genre?

August 25, 2005

Bottom-up culture emphasizes participation over ownership. Is it a novelty or a durable genre?

The Rise of the Share-Recycle Movement

August 24, 2005

The internet has spawned a new kind of recycling movement, in which people easily find new owners for things they are ready to toss out.

Corporate Graffiti Vandals

August 23, 2005

How is a lively commons reduced to a mere market? It starts with small steps.

Is the Fashion Commons at Risk?

August 19, 2005

No one owns the idea for the little black dress or pinstriped suit. Fashion is a commons. But high-end designers now want to claim copyright on their clothes.

The Struggle to Define Social Reality: Market vs. Commons

August 18, 2005

As Americans reconsider junk food, the commons plays a new role in defining social reality.

Copyrighting Corpses

August 16, 2005

Copyright issues take on a ghoulish tone.

The Self-Reinforcing Spiral of Commercialism

August 12, 2005

The spiral of commercialism threatens to overwhelm artistic creativity in all corners of society.

Reclaiming the Nation's Airwaves

August 11, 2005

Reclaiming the nation's airwaves.