Login/New-Account | Search | Submit a Story! | Greplaw!??
 
GrepLaw
- About
- FAQ
- Discussions
- Messages
- Topics
- Authors

- Preferences
- Older Stuff
- Past Polls
- Submit Story
- XML/RSS

GrepLaw
This site is a production of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society. Please email if you have questions, contributions, or ideas about improving this site.

F & F
Family

Friends

 
No More Lessig
posted by mpawlo on Tuesday August 13, @03:02PM
from the okay-one-final-performance dept.
News Stanford Law Professor Lawrence Lessig will not give any more public speeches this year. Concluding a massive speech tour around the world, professor Lessig will now devote his talents to the Eldred v Ashcroft case. Lessig will be back speaking again sometime next year. One of his final keynotes is available online for Lessig fans.

From OSCON 2002: Lawrence Lessig's speech on July 24, 2002 (in Flash format, 8 MB).

DeCSS indictment in English | Microsoft's Lobbyists in Action  >

 

 
GrepLaw Login
Nickname:

Password:

[ Create a new account ]

Related Links
  • Eldred v Ashcroft case
  • Lawrence Lessig's speech on July 24, 2002
  • More on News
  • Also by mpawlo
  • This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
    No More Lessig | Login/Create an Account | Top | 3 comments | Search Discussion
    Threshold:
    The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
    Lessigs presentation - top marks. (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 14, @08:50AM (#213)
    For those who haven't heard Lessig speak or aren't familiar with his books, this piece is an excellent introduction. Definately worth 30 minutes of anyones time. The format of flash animation really helps to keep you in tune with what Lessig is saying. A very worthwhile piece of multimedia.
    The Refrain (Score:1)
    by alastair on Wednesday August 14, @06:04PM (#216)
    User #399 Info
    Well, I've just listened to what Lawrence said at OSCON. A leftfield reminder from an unusual source (a database mailing list, perl DBI) pushed me to go and listen, since the list maintainer (Tim Bunce) was obviously very passionate on the importance. I have to concur.

    I'd also concur on the quality of Mr. Lessig's speech - it was very good. I think I might even ask my colleagues and friends at work to take time off to watch and listen. I'd like to thank him for this, and also for being a bit more confrontational in parts than usual.

    "What have you done?"

    I guess, in a democratic society, we (the people) still count for something, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels an almost overwhelming powerlessness. Things are not going so well for us inhabitants on the commons. This is me speaking from a distant country called England mind you, but unfortunately not a safe place since law is increasingly international, perhaps 'treaty' based, and certainly driven to some extent by our US cousins.

    Was the speech a bit depressing? Yes. For one reason that the main (or only) offer of hope was monetary donation. Important ofcourse, but it would have been good to hear that other forms of action or complaint might have some effect. Then again, maybe I live in a dream world nowadays, where money is not king.

    I wish we could all overthrow this king.

    As I said, dreaming! If we want justice, we need to spend money. And it will cost more in the future, for more justice in other areas, due to inflation.

    Far be it from me to schedule Mr. Lessig's time but I hope, after a suitable recuperation period, he manages to get back out there and deliver more talks like this. I think he's needed in this arena.

    Cheers

    Alastair
    London

    Re:The Refrain (Score:0)
    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 15, @10:55PM (#221)

    While Lessig concentrates on the importance of sending money to groups like the EFF (or GeekPAC soon, I suppose), the money is really a proxy for motivation and mobilization. (face it, sending money is easiest way for most people to help out)

    Over and over he asks: What have you done? Yes, the refrain is important, but it's only the first part. The call to arms is the second part

    Sure I've contributed to the EFF, which I'd like to believe makes a difference (it all adds up), but with a relatively small (but non-trivial) commitment in effort this past week (a few late nights last week, a good chunk of weekend hours, and 85GB [and counting] of spare bandwidth) I was able to reall help in getting 50,000 people, a good chunk of whom weren't aware of what was going w/ copyright riled up and at least better aware and focused on the issue. I'm getting referers from Live Journals, and Diaryland sites, and music and car and i don't know what message forums. Normal people who otherwise have been completely lackadaisical about the issue at hand not focused and pumped up to do something. And you know what, all of us can do something to help out.

    Imagine if we're actually able to get a few hundred thousand people across the nation - a cross section of people, not just techies or liberatarians or hackers - not only to understand the free culture debate, but to act on it. To write a letter to their congressman, or to contribute a few bucks... Ending rant... we're at a crossroads right now which is quickly passing a point of no return. With the Eldred v. Ashcroft case coming up, I think now is perhaps our best last chance to help steer us on the right course.

     

    .leonard
    http://randomfoo.net/ [randomfoo.net]

    Humanity has the stars in its future, and that future is too important to be lost under the burden of juvenile folly and ignorant superstition. - Isaac Asimov

    [ home | contribute story | older articles | past polls | faq | authors | preferences ]