Idea of the day: Defend the people’s commons

Power2010 Blog

// All Entries »

Idea of the day: Defend the people’s commons

23.11.2009 // by Guest

This idea comes from Rosemary in Highgate, London:

What's the big idea?:
Reverse the criminalisation of file-sharing on the net, roll back the extension of copyright, defend the people's commons. Ask all candidates to declare in whose interest they stand on this issue. Put an end to the Digital Economics Bill proposed by an unelected Peter Mandelson, on behalf of vested interests, which will misuse the law to punish those who want to know, to communicate and to share.

Why is this change important to you?:

This all began with Bill Clinton's White Paper on Intellectual Property and the National Information Infrastructure in 1995 which referred to 'fair use' and users' rights as a 'tax' on copyright holders. It's madness. There is no longer any defense of the users' interest in the copyright regime which used to balance the interests of authors, publishers and users. This is a second enclosure - this time on our intellectual and cultural commons.