The Future of the Public Domain – Identifying the Commons in Information Law

Abstract

The presence of a robust public domain is an essential precondition for cultural, social and economic development and for a healthy democratic process. But the public domain is under pressure as a result of the ongoing march towards an information economy. This book takes a broad, 'information law' oriented approach towards the question of preservering the public domain, in which a wide range of interrelated legal questions converge. Thirteen contributions from academia worldwide make up the present book, addressing the future of the public domain from a different angle. In addition, all authors were invited to reflect upon the notion and role of the public domain in the context of information law and policy.