As we've seen, our constitutional system requires limits on copyright as a way to assure that copyright holders do not too heavily influence the development and distribution of our culture. Lawrence Lessig assureconstitutionalcopyright Change image and share on social
Monopoly controls have been the exception in free societies; they have been the rule in closed societies. Lawrence Lessig closecontrolexception Change image and share on social
If the only way a library can offer an Internet exhibit about the New Deal is to hire a lawyer to clear the rights to every image and sound, then the copyright system is burdening creativity in a way that has never been seen before because there are no formalities. Lawrence Lessig burdenclearcopyright share on social
A free culture has been our past, but it will only be our future if we change the path we are on right now. Lawrence Lessig changeculturefree Change image and share on social
The real harm of term extension comes not from these famous works. The real harm is to the works that are not famous, not commercially exploited, and no longer available as a result. Lawrence Lessig commerciallyexploitextension Change image and share on social
We have a massive system to regulate creativity. A massive system of lawyers regulating creativity as copyright law has expanded in unrecognizable forms, going from a regulation of publishing to a regulation of copying. Lawrence Lessig copycopyrightcreativity share on social
Now that copyrights can be just about a century long, the inability to know what is protected and what is not protected becomes a huge and obvious burden on the creative process. Lawrence Lessig burdencenturycopyright Change image and share on social
Power runs with ideas that only the crazy would draw into doubt. Lawrence Lessig crazydoubtdraw Change image and share on social
A time is marked not so much by ideas that are argued about as by ideas that are taken for granted. The character of an era hangs upon what needs no defense. Lawrence Lessig arguecharacterdefense Change image and share on social
So uncritically do we accept the idea of property in culture that we don't even question when the control of that property removes our ability, as a people, to develop our culture democratically. Lawrence Lessig abilityacceptcontrol Change image and share on social
