Media and Internet

The Internet offers an unparalleled opportunity for generating and expanding the commons in many ways. The mass media, often relying on free use of the airwaves, is a powerful public resource that too often represents the views of a narrow strata of society. Thinking of communications itself as a commons opens up broad new possibilities for sharing of information and insight.

November 28, 2005

Macedonia gets countrywide Wi-Fi

Macedonia is the first country in the world to get a nationwide wireless network.

November 17, 2005

Property Rights in the Networked Environment: Something's Gotta Give

Sony BMG is hardnosed on protecting its intellectual property rights, yet has joined a commons-inspired open invention network. This shows that the commons is an asset – not a threat – to business.

November 16, 2005

Digital divide in Europe and the US: two reports

Age, education, and family income are chief factors in determining who uses the internet, show reports from U.S. and Europe.

November 10, 2005

Sandoval County, New Mexico deploys countywide Wi-Fi network

Huge, largely rural county in New Mexico goes wi-fi.

November 3, 2005

Google Print and the Future of Copyright Law

Google plans to make millions of out-of-print books available online – while stodgy book publishers invoke copyright law to thwart the public interest and veto the future.