Continuing Quote by Lawrence Lessig
“Of all the creative work produced by humans anywhere, a tiny fraction has continuing commercial value. For that tiny fraction, the copyright is a crucially important legal device.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: 2008 Stanford Law School talk on copyright
He notes that only a tiny fraction of creative work retains commercial value, making copyright essential for that fraction
In simple terms: Only a small part of creativity earns money; copyright protects it
Key Takeaway
Protect valuable creative works with copyright
Themes
copyright
value
law
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
legal
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Publishing
- software development
- media production
Key Concepts
Intellectual property
economic incentive
legal framework
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance protection and access?
- What reforms could improve copyright for non‑commercial works?
A Different Perspective
Over‑protecting may hinder broader cultural sharing
