The Commons

This lecture explores the concept of the Commons, focusing on the conflict between the privatisation of knowledge and the collective development of common resources. It delves into the coexistence of two worlds: one where free and common knowledge is created collaboratively, and another dominated by large companies protecting proprietary content. The discussion covers historical perspectives, such as the tragedy of the enclosures and the tragedy of the commons, as well as modern issues like intellectual property rights, software patents, and the extension of copyright periods. The lecture also examines famous disputes in the field, the importance of the public domain, and the emergence of voluntary creation of commons. It concludes by proposing new governance approaches to balance intellectual property protection and the development of common resources.