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Our trend in copyright law has been to enclose as much as we can; the consequence of this enclosure is a stifling of creativity and innovation. If the Internet teaches us anything, it is that great value comes from leaving core resources in a commons, where they're free for people to build upon as they see fit.

— Lawrence Lessig

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More quotes by Lawrence Lessig

We are on the cusp of this time where I can say, "I speak as a citizen of the world" without others saying, "God, what a nut."

The problem is their insane rules are now being applied to the whole world. This insanity of control is expanding as everything you do touches copyrights.

I believe it would be right for common sense to revolt against the extreme claims made today on behalf of "intellectual property."

Free Culture (2004)

We live in a world with "free" content, and this freedom is not an imperfection.

May the Source Be With You (2001)

Show me why your regulation of culture is needed. Show me how it does good. And until you can show me both, keep your lawyers away.

Free Culture (2004)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Lawrence Lessig (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.