Intellectual Commons and the Law

* Book: Intellectual Commons and the Law: A Normative Theory for Commons-Based Peer Production. Antonios Broumas. University of Westminster Press, 2020

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Contents

ToC:

1. Introduction 1

1.1. The Intellectual Commons at the Forefront 1
1.2. The Laws of the Intellect and the Commons of the Mind 2
1.3. World Views Inverted: Fundamental Notions of the Intellectual Commons 3
1.4. The Moral Aspects of Commons-Based Peer Production 5
1.5. Towards a Commons-Oriented Jurisprudence 8

2. The Ontology of the Intellectual Commons 11

2.1. Introduction 11
2.2. Definitions 11
2.3. Elements and Characteristics 14
2.4. Tendencies 18
2.5. Manifestations 22
2.6. Conclusion 25

3. Theories of the Intellectual Commons 27

3.1. Introduction 27
3.2. The Growth of Academic Interest on the Concept of the Commons 28
3.3. Rational Choice Theories of the Intellectual Commons: The Commons as Patch to Capital 29
3.4. Neoliberal Theories of the Intellectual Commons: The Commons as Fix to Capital 35
3.5. Social Democratic Theories of the Intellectual Commons: The Commons as Substitute to the Welfare State 44
3.6. Critical Theories of the Intellectual Commons: The Commons as Alternative to Capital 52
3.7. Conclusion 60

4. Cultural Commons and the Law from the Renaissance to Postmodernity: A Case Study 63

4.1. Introduction 63
4.2. Cultural Commons and the Law in the Renaissance 64
4.3. Cultural Commons and the Law in Modernity 69
4.4. Cultural Commons and the Law in Postmodernity 77
4.5. Conclusion 85

5. Researching the Social Value of the Intellectual Commons: Methodology and Design 89

5.1. Introduction 89
5.2. Research Theory 90
5.3 Research Method 91
5.4. Data Coding 100
5.5. Conclusion 101

6. Social Value of the Intellectual Commons: Dimensions of Commons-Based Value 103

6.1. Introduction 103
6.2. The Economic Dimension of Commons-Based Value 103
6.3. The Social Dimension of Commons-Based Value 105
6.4. The Cultural Dimension of Commons-Based Value 107
6.5. The Political Dimension of Commons-Based Value 107
6.6. General Dimensions of Commons-Based Value 110

7. The Social Value of the Intellectual Commons: Commons-Based and Monetary Value Dialectics 113

7.1. Introduction 113
7.2. Commons-Based and Monetary Value Dialectics 113
7.3. The Comparison between Offline and Online Communities 117
7.4. Conclusion 118

8. The Social Value of the Intellectual Commons: Conclusions on Commons-Based Value 119

8.1. Introduction 119
8.2. Social Value in the Intellectual Commons 119
8.3. Productive Communal Activity as the Source of Commons-Based Value 120
8.4. The Forms of Commons-Based Value 121
8.5. The Mode of Commons-Based Value Circulation 122
8.6. Crises of Value 125
8.7. Conclusion 127

9. Towards A Normative Theory of the Intellectual Commons 129

9.1. Introduction 129
9.2. Foundations of the Critical Normative Theory of the Intellectual Commons 129
9.3. Personhood 132
9.4. Work 135
9.5. Value 139
9.6. Community 143
9.7. Basic Elements of an Intellectual Commons Law 150
9.8. Conclusion 153

10. Conclusion 155

10.1. The Moral Dimension of the Intellectual Commons 155
10.2. The Justification of an Intellectual Commons Law 161
10.3. Concluding Remarks and Political Implications 165
10.4. The Way Forward