Intellectual Property News

The BBC are not only putting their archive online, they're making it available under a Creative Commons licence.

Why should you care? Because you (if you're English) will not only be able to download old BBC TV and radio shows and put them on whatever you damn well feel like to view/listen to them, but you'll also be able to use them in any way you see fit as long as it's not for profit. And you duly credit the BBC.

This may just be the first major shift in cultural dominance from the US back to England (and Europe.) By freeing up their content, the BBC are ensuring it will be around for a lot longer than the tightly restricted content produced by US companies.

Still not excited? Better read up on your Lawrence Lessig...

Bad news for Australians, though.


Here's the ever-glorious Kate Lundy's take on the forthcoming "Free" Trade Agreement.

I didn't know she was a Neal Stephenson fan!