Copy, Rip, Burn: The Politics of Copyleft and Open Source

This book explores the notion that digital media is forcing us to rethink the very idea of intellectual property, including lost corporate profits juxtaposed with individual freedom and autonomy of access. The author explores this debate, offering an introduction for anyone not versed in the legalistic terminology involved in this issue. Looking at the historical development of the free software and the open source movement, he examines its growth, politics, and potential impact, showing how the ideas that inspired the movement have now begun to influence the wider cultural landscape. He explores whether free software offers the potential to re-think one's relationship with technology in the information society.

Table of Contents:

• Acknowledgements
  
• Preface
  
• 1. The Canary in the Mine
  
• 2. The Information Society
  
• 3. The Concept of the Commons
  
• 4. From Free Software to Open Source?
  
• 5. The Contestation of Code
  
• 6. The Poetics of Code
  
• Bibliography
  
• Index