book data
412 ratings,
4.21
average rating, 69 reviews
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published
February 22nd 2005
(first published 2004)
by Penguin (Non-Classics)
binding
Paperback, 368 pages
isbn
0143034650
(isbn13: 9780143034650)
description
Lawrence Lessig, “the most important thinker on intellectual property in the Internet era” (The New Yorker), masterfully argues that never before in h...more
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avg 4.21
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in February, 2008
Wow. What can I say about this book? Not only engrossing and enlightening, but extremely fun to read. Given that it's about copyright law, I feel that's quite an endorsement.
It got especially exciting toward the end, when Lessig described a legal battle he directed that ended in a loss at the Supreme Court, and the crushing personal guilt he felt for this outcome.
The upshot is that today's cultural establishment dinosaurs - the recording industry and, to a lesser extent, ...more
It got especially exciting toward the end, when Lessig described a legal battle he directed that ended in a loss at the Supreme Court, and the crushing personal guilt he felt for this outcome.
The upshot is that today's cultural establishment dinosaurs - the recording industry and, to a lesser extent, ...more
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1 comment
Unless you absolutely need paper, this is available online from the author at http://www.free-culture.cc/freecontent/
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09/11/07
Jarrodtrainque
added it
Lawrence Lessig, “the most important thinker on intellectual property in the Internet era” (The New Yorker), masterfully argues that never before in human history has the power to control creative progress been so concentrated in the hands of the powerful few, the so-called Big Media. Never before have the cultural powers- that-be been able to exert such control over what we can and can't do with the culture around us. Our society defends free markets and free speech; why then does...more
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Read in November, 2008
Lawrence Lessig’s Free Culture Book Review
In Free Culture, Lawrence Lessig focuses on piracy and how copyright law and copyright problems have expanded in today’s media. There is definitely growing awareness of copyright infringement especially since technology continues to advance and more people are participants in its public domain. Lessig points to a diminishment of the public domain of ideas because of the harsh copyright laws that exist today. He believes that they invoke ...more
In Free Culture, Lawrence Lessig focuses on piracy and how copyright law and copyright problems have expanded in today’s media. There is definitely growing awareness of copyright infringement especially since technology continues to advance and more people are participants in its public domain. Lessig points to a diminishment of the public domain of ideas because of the harsh copyright laws that exist today. He believes that they invoke ...more
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
proponents of civil disobedience and DVD pirates
I really got wrapped up in Lessig's ideas while reading this book, in fact getting so passionate about fighint gour crappy copyright legislation that I made myself a nuisance in a librarian training session and picked a fight with my husband. So, Lessig, I'm behind you all the way, but your book is a homewrecker. (This review is Creative Commons licensed share-and-share-alike.)
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Read in August, 2004
Witty, well researched, amazingly well written treatise on the nature of copyright law in a digital culture. As little legal nonsense as possible, as much discussion about the nature of creativity as being inherently collaborative within a culture, and how creativity is not a luxury but a necessity to maintain a vibrant free democratic culture. I heart Lawrence Lessig.
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Read in May, 2004
recommended to Katy by:
Vaughn
My good friend was thanked in the credits of this book - but that aside - I love the author of this book. So basically, I'm totally biased and don't have anything objective to say about "free culture" if you are interested in Patent/copyright law or the future of ideas, it is a must read
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Read in December, 2008
recommended to melydia by:
xkcdrecommends it for: people who share content on the internet
Copyright law! That's right, folks, I read a book about copyright law. And a fascinating book, at that. Lessig takes us through the ins and outs of these ever-changing rules, sprinkled liberally with relevant examples. Should students be sued for their life savings for sharing music files? Should copyright automatically be renewed, even if the original holder is disinterested or even dead? Are fanart and fanfic actually a threat to creators of the content on which they are based? How does...more
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Read in September, 2007
I can't give this book a high enough rating; it should be required reading for everyone. A vital survey of what's wrong with copyright law, and the destructive anti-technology crusades of corporate interests like the RIAA and MPAA.
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recommends it for:
everyone in the USA
I'll admit up front that my bias is in favor of Lessig's perspective on copyright. That said I don't think you can find a more approachable explanation of why cancerous copyright policy is attacking the body politic. There's a great deal here that is helpful in developing an understanding of copyright policy; particularly for those who know something ins't right, but can't put their finger on it.
If you've ever used youtube, iTunes, hulu, or any other digital medium to access your m...more
If you've ever used youtube, iTunes, hulu, or any other digital medium to access your m...more
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Read in August, 2008
I saw this gentleman speak at the Conference For Media Reform in Minneapolis, and he was just inspirational.
So naturally, I wanted to read everything the dude has written. I started here.
This is an important book for people to have read. I think it does a terrific job of illustrating what real danger we are in regarding copyright laws, intellectual property, and all that nonsense.
The thing I like so much about this guy, aside the fact that he's just awesome,...more
So naturally, I wanted to read everything the dude has written. I started here.
This is an important book for people to have read. I think it does a terrific job of illustrating what real danger we are in regarding copyright laws, intellectual property, and all that nonsense.
The thing I like so much about this guy, aside the fact that he's just awesome,...more
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Read in March, 2009
I read this book through Dailylit.com, and it was fairly well suited to the instalment format. Came across as a series of small essays, instead of a continuous thought.
Lessig was a decently pleasant narrator, although he relied a little too heavily on case studies and analogies for my preferences. I'd prefer broader descriptions of ideas and ideals, followed by case studies instead of introduced by them.
Near the end was a paragraph which crystallized my understanding of w...more
Lessig was a decently pleasant narrator, although he relied a little too heavily on case studies and analogies for my preferences. I'd prefer broader descriptions of ideas and ideals, followed by case studies instead of introduced by them.
Near the end was a paragraph which crystallized my understanding of w...more
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Available to listen to -- free -- in mp3 format:
http://www.turnstyle.org/FreeCulture/
The illustrative stories that begin every chapter are fascinating. Anyone who understands analogies and cares about our culture will be puzzled about the new expansions of copyright until decades after an creator's death, apparently because of the influence of a few lobbyists, like Sonny Bono's suddenly bereaved and very sympathetic widow and the apparently "charming" Jack Valenti.
...more
http://www.turnstyle.org/FreeCulture/
The illustrative stories that begin every chapter are fascinating. Anyone who understands analogies and cares about our culture will be puzzled about the new expansions of copyright until decades after an creator's death, apparently because of the influence of a few lobbyists, like Sonny Bono's suddenly bereaved and very sympathetic widow and the apparently "charming" Jack Valenti.
...more
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Read in December, 2008
I knew more than the average reader probably does about the issues and arguments regarding intellectual property and copyright going into this, but I was pleasantly surprised how much was new to me, and how much interesting, insightful and surprising (and surprisingly relevant and repeated) history there was, as well as lucid, readable accounts of current issues and struggles in the copy-fight world. Highly recommended if you care at all about your intellectual and creative freedom and about th...more
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Read in January, 2006
Read this book if you are concerned about the future of culture. I'd imagine that you're habits of consuming and disseminating culture will change, or at least your thoughts on such will. Not a cozy page turner for a rainy day, nor necessarily great for a linear front to back read, but worth spending some time with.
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A great overview of where the topic of copyright law stands. Although the book is perhaps more cynical than it needs to be to make its point, it's still a great read if you're unfamiliar with the topic or if you just want to get angry all over again.
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Read in February, 2009
Not often I read non-fiction for fun. Okay, that may be a lie. But I found this book fascinating, and the answers to many questions I have asked myself and others over the years were found in these pages.
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Ok, so I'm biased because the issues that the book discusses are some of the things that made me want to go to law school in the first place and Lessig's work has pretty much informed my academic thinking while in school. But this shit is riveting. I know it doesn't seem like it would be, but it is, and it's of immense importance to anyone who consumes contemporary music (and culture) or has an interest in how art gets commodified. Which is basically all of you people.
Also, even if y...more
Also, even if y...more
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Incredibly important examination of what makes our current IP law regime so terrible. If you care about creativity or freedom of expression you should read this book.
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
everyone
a must read for understanding the history of copyright in this and other countries. Told in a surprisingly amusing way for how information heavy it is.
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quotes from this book
"If the law imposed the death penalty for parking tickets, we’d not only have fewer parking tickets, we’d also have much
less driving.
"
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