Although published last year, this book remains a classic in Internet books. Describing the dilemmas in intellectual property disputes as well as who controls content, the code and physical layers of the Internet, Lessig has produced a major work. As he repeats in his final sentence, we are moving through the "moment of an architecture of innovation" toward a slippery slope of "an architecture of control." A year later we continue down this slope. At the same time his basic premise of control becoming dominant is not entirely so as we see the growth in interest in Open Source Linux. Even in China, a move toward a more open operating system model at least bodes well for the code layer. He fails to separate consolidation in the industry from the future of control. His well-developed concept of the need for a balance of control and creativity makes it worth the read.
The only criticism of the book is the level of detail explored in each area: code, content and physical layers. However, as an attempt to thoroughly explore this topic, the much of detail is necessary.
Overall, the book is a significant contribution to predictions about the future of the Internet and the need for government regulation to maintain the opportunity for ongoing innovation. This is not just a book about another self-righteous open source freak or intellectual property crusader. Lessig should be read by information technology professionals, attorneys, marketing professionals and business entrepenures alike.

Lessig does a very good idea describing how we are radically shifting how ideas are controlled. His previous book, Code, was a little more abstract, but is a good introduction for this book. In Code he explained that although we think the internet is all about freedom it need not always be that way. In this book he specifically shows how technology is being used to provide owners of intellectual property GREATER control over how their work is used. Today we accept that we can go to a library and get a book for free or borrow a copy of book from a friend. However, music companies (one of many examples) are working technology so that every listening of a song (in electronic form) could be tracted (and presumably charge for). With the current debates about internet radio charging, embedding of anti-piracy technology in all PCs, allowing music companies to plant viruses to punish file-sharers this book could not be more timely (well maybe it could have come out a little earlier). I don't agree with all of Lessig's opinions, but I did agree with his overall premise that we are in the middle of vast shift of how intellectual property is controlled and it requires more thought than we are giving it today.

I well remember when I first entered the Internet. Even in those days of Gopher and early versions of Mosaic, I found an exciting and brand-new world, ripe with incredible possibilities. It was a world of free expression, rapid access to vast storehouses of information, instant contact with anyone who had the resources to connect.

But a dark thought always lurked in the recesses of my mind: What will happen when "Big Money" wakes up to the power of the Web? I luridly imagined mega-corporations somehow buying up the Web, tying up content, and crying up to Big Brother when they didn't get their way.

Those days seem to be closer than I ever imagined.

That's what I learned in this intricately arresting book by Stanford law professor Lawrence Lessig. It's an exultant yet sobering look at how the nature of the Internet sparked a new age of innovation--and how this is now seriously threatened. As Lessig writes:

"The original Net protected fundamental aspects of innovation. End-to-end meant new ideas were protected; open code meant innovation would not be attacked; free distribution meant new ways of connecting would be assured. These protections were largely architectural. This architecture is now changing. And as it changes, as with the threats to liberty, there is a threat here to innovation."

Lessig's purpose is awaken us to our untested belief in the value of control over commons before the Net is swallowed up.

The Future of Ideas is nicely structured to that end--but you'll need to strap on your thinking cap before you dive in. Lessig is unrelentingly brilliant and his text is richly loaded with concepts you may never have considered

He begins by introducting the concept of "commons"--most simply defined as a resource held freely in common for the overall good of society. He helps us understand that concept by repeatedly referring to the public roads and highways--they are held in common, we have free access to them, they bring value where they exist.

He then takes this idea of commons and beautifully demonstrates how the Internet rapidly emerged as a new commons for innovation. Against the historical backdrop of controlled innovation that he calls the "dark ages" (well typified by AT&T's former stranglehold over U.S. telecommunications), Lessig shows us how the Web provides a gloriously free field for innovation and ideas--something undeniable in light of its impact over the last several years.

He then explains--in what I found by far the most interesting part of the book--how the nature of the Internet itself, at its physical, code and content layers, created, enabled and empowered this new commons of innovation. I learned things I'd never known about the Net and felt that familiar leap of heart at what the Web could bring.

The book then takes a dark turn as Lessig explains how each layer of the Net is falling under systems of control--systems that threaten to take away the values, norms and architecture of the Net that make it such a free field for innovation. Behind this are the usual culprits--mega-corporations aided and abetted by politicians and the courts. The result is that the commons of the Net is seriously threatened.

But that's only part of the tale Lessig tells. He explains:

"The larger story here is not about dark forces. It is about a blindness that affects our political culture generally. We have been so captured by the ideals of property and control that we don't even see the benefits from resources not perfectly controlled.... This is not a conspiracy. It is a cultural blindness."

In short, it's a story about us, We the People, who are unquestioningly letting Big Money and Big Government erode the freedoms and commons of the Net.

Lessig concludes with some practical, common-sense and challenging recommendations to stop the growing avalanche. Yet the final chapter is chilling, Lessig's closing even more so:

"We move through this moment of an architecture of innovation to, once again, embrace an architecture of control--without noticing, without resistance, without so much as a question. Those threatened by this technology of freedom have learned how to turn the technology off. The switch is now being thrown. We are doing nothing about it."

Want to do something about it? You can begin by reading this book.

It was one of those books I made my parents read over and over. I think it sends a good message that the true spirit of Christmas isn't getting big, expensive gifts but love toward your friends and family.

This is not his good stuff. It is marketted fluff using his name. There are some good collections, but don't buy anything by this publisher.

As Robert Crumb grew up his comics sometimes became more imature but even though he might get more bitter his art work gets better. His stories get better. When he started he might have done simple comic gag but as he has got older those gags have mutated it hilarously well writen stories. Each Complete Crumb Comics is better than the last.