Battle Quote by Lawrence Lessig
“Creativity builds upon the public domain. The battle that we're fighting now is about whether the public domain will continue to be fed by creative works after their copyright expires. That has been our tradition but that tradition has been perverted in the last generation. We're trying to use the Constitution to reestablish what has always been taken for granted--that the public domain would grow each year with new creative work.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public Domain Advocacy, 2018
He warns that current copyright extensions threaten the growth of the public domain, which traditionally fuels new creativity.
In simple terms: Copyright extensions end public domain growth.
Key Takeaway
Protect the public domain to sustain creativity.
Themes
law
intellectual property
culture
creativity
policy
Mood
concerned
motivated
Type
policy
advocacy
When to use this quote
- publishing
- software development
- education
- media production
Key Concepts
commons
copyright term
creative commons
Questions to Reflect On
- How would shorter copyright terms affect creators?
- What mechanisms can balance creator rights and public access?
A Different Perspective
Over‑protection can stifle innovation.
