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If you don't do something now, this freedom that you built, that you spend your life coding, this freedom will be taken away. Either by those who see you as a threat, who then invoke the system of law we call patents, or by those who take advantage of the extraordinary expansion of control that the law of copyright now gives them over innovation. Either of these two changes through law will produce a world where your freedom has been taken away. And, If you can't fight for your freedom . . . you don't deserve it.

Lawrence Lessig#29

LawFreedomInnovationActivismRights

About this quote

What does it mean?
Freedom to innovate must be defended now against laws that expand control over work.
In plain terms
Fight legal changes that take away creative freedom.
What can you take from it?
Defend innovation freedom actively.

Where it applies

  • activism
  • coding community
  • policy debate

Putting it to work

  • fight policy changes
  • organize for open access

Questions to consider

  • What freedom matters most to you?
  • How can you fight for open access?

Another view

Some legal controls prevent theft and harm.

More from Lawrence Lessig

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