Software and seeds: open source methods by Margaret EI Kipp | 17 Feb 2006 Open source methodologies used in software are interrogated and then compared to the methods used in farmers’ rights groups. The use of open source methods in other contexts illustrates increasing interest in grassroots democratic movements participating in the continuing process of balance between public and private interests. These efforts provide a possible alternate framework for policy decisions concerning intellectual property. Open source methodologies used in software are interrogated and then compared to the methods used in farmers’ rights groups. The use of open source methods in other contexts illustrates increasing interest in grassroots democratic movements participating in the continuing process of balance between public and private interests. These efforts provide a possible alternate framework for policy decisions concerning intellectual property.
The common good by Jonathan Rowe | 17 Feb 2006 An argument for asserting our rights to quiet, community, a drink of pure water, and a breath of fresh air. An argument for asserting our rights to quiet, community, a drink of pure water, and a breath of fresh air.
Contested Commons / Trespassing Publics by SARAI (India) | 17 Feb 2006 Contested Commons/Trespassing PublicsA Conference on Inequalities, Conflicts and Intellectual Property 6th - 8th January 2005 in New DelhiWe would like to push comparative discussions between earlier and contemporary moments of dispossession and criminalisation, between the open source movement and discussions on traditional knowledge and bio-diversity. We would also like to build a dialogue between different moments in media history: print, film, music and the new media, so as to prise open questions around culture, circulation and property. Contested Commons/Trespassing PublicsA Conference on Inequalities, Conflicts and Intellectual Property 6th - 8th January 2005 in New DelhiWe would like to push comparative discussions between earlier and contemporary moments of dispossession and criminalisation, between the open source movement and discussions on traditional knowledge and bio-diversity. We would also like to build a dialogue between different moments in media history: print, film, music and the new media, so as to prise open questions around culture, circulation and property.
Imagining a World without Copyright by Marieke van Schijndel & Joost Smiers | 17 Feb 2006 It is time to move beyond merely criticizing copyright. The pressing question is: which alternative can we offer artists and other cultural entrepreneurs in rich as well as poor countries that benefits them, and that brings the increasing privatisation of creativity and expertise to a halt? Our goal in this essay is to develop such an alternative, and to move beyond any notion centred on private intellectual property rights. It is time to move beyond merely criticizing copyright. The pressing question is: which alternative can we offer artists and other cultural entrepreneurs in rich as well as poor countries that benefits them, and that brings the increasing privatisation of creativity and expertise to a halt? Our goal in this essay is to develop such an alternative, and to move beyond any notion centred on private intellectual property rights.
The case for biolinuxes and other pro-commons innovations by K Ravi Srinivas | 17 Feb 2006 A biolinux model would be based on the logic that farmers are both users and innovatorsof technology, coupled with the idea of Copyleft. A biolinux model would be based on the logic that farmers are both users and innovatorsof technology, coupled with the idea of Copyleft.
Free culture by Lawrence Lessig | 17 Feb 2006 Flash presentation from OSCON 2002 Flash presentation from OSCON 2002
Choosing and Using Open Source Software: A Primer for Nonprofits by Nonprofit Open Source Initiative) | 10 Feb 2006 A primer that describes what open source software is and what impact this type of software may have on the nonprofit sector. A primer that describes what open source software is and what impact this type of software may have on the nonprofit sector.
The real meaning of Hong Kong: India and Brazil join the big boys' club by Walden Bello | 28 Jan 2006 Seedling - January 2006 What was at stake at the Hong Kong ministerial meeting was the institutional survival of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). After the collapse of two ministerials in Seattle and Cancun, a third unravelling would have seriously eroded the usefulness of the WTO as the key engine of global trade liberalisation. A deal was needed, and that deal was arrived at. How, why, and by whom that deal was delivered was the real story of the December 2005 meeting in Hong Kong. This article was first published by Focus on the Global South in December 2006 (http://www.focusweb.org/content/view/799/55/) What was at stake at the Hong Kong ministerial meeting was the institutional survival of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). After the collapse of two ministerials in Seattle and Cancun, a third unravelling would have seriously eroded the usefulness of the WTO as the key engine of global trade liberalisation. A deal was needed, and that deal was arrived at. How, why, and by whom that deal was delivered was the real story of the December 2005 meeting in Hong Kong. This article was first published by Focus on the Global South in December 2006 (http://www.focusweb.org/content/view/799/55/)
Conservation Refugees: When conservation means kicking people out by Mark Dowie | 25 Jan 2006 Seedling - January 2006 It’s no secret that millions of indigenous peoples around the world have been pushed off their land to make room for big oil, big metal, big timber, and big agriculture. But few people realise that the same thing has been happening for a much nobler cause: land and wildlife conservation. It’s not just corporations that have a bad name amongst indigenous communities, but also, and increasingly, some international non-governmental organisations. It’s no secret that millions of indigenous peoples around the world have been pushed off their land to make room for big oil, big metal, big timber, and big agriculture. But few people realise that the same thing has been happening for a much nobler cause: land and wildlife conservation. It’s not just corporations that have a bad name amongst indigenous communities, but also, and increasingly, some international non-governmental organisations.