Transcript Designing Digital Commons

LAPSI Conference: Comment
Universita Bocconi, Milan
5 May 2011
Paul F. Uhlir, J.D.
Director, Board on Research Data and Information
National Academy of Sciences
Washington, DC
[email protected]
www.nas.edu/brdi
LAPSI Conference
Comparison of some print and digitally networked paradigm characteristics:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
PRINT PARADIGM
GLOBAL DIGITAL NETWORKS
(pre) Industrial Age
fixed, static
rigid
physical
local
linear
limited content and types
distribution difficult, slow
copying cumbersome, not perfect
significant marginal distribution cost
single user (or small group)
centralized production
slow knowledge diffusion
quasi private good
post-industrial Information Age
transformative, interactive
flexible, extensible
“virtual”
global
non-linear, asynchronous
unlimited contents and multimedia
easy and immediate dissemination
copying simple and identical
near-zero marginal distribution cost
multiple, concurrent users/producers
distributed and integrated production
accelerated knowledge diffusion
quasi public good
LAPSI Conference
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Principles for deconstruction of print-paradigm PSI models for
reconstruction in digitally networked context:
Maximize public good aspects of public sector information (PSI)
Avoid monopolies and artificial markets (service, not captured product)
Take advantage of near-zero marginal cost for dissemination
Allow unrestricted re-use, either through statutory public domain or
contractually constructed public domain, with attribution required.
Optimize content for automated knowledge discovery tools
Maintain characteristics of online PSI that are essential to the democratic
process and the progress of society (quality control, transparency, ease of
access, non-proprietary formats, long-term preservation, etc.—see OECD
Principles and Guidelines on Access to PSI, 2008)
Conclusion: A default rule of open access and unrestricted re-use of
most PSI, subject only to legitimate exceptions.
LAPSI Conference
Existing public-sector digital commons models and
emerging open knowledge environments (OKEs):
• Open-source software movement (e.g., Linux and 10Ks of other programs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
worldwide);
Open data centers and archives (e.g., European Biotechnology Institute);
Federated open data networks (e.g., World Data Center System, GEOSS);
Open access journals (e.g., > 5500 scholarly journals in DOAJ);
Open repositories for an institution’s/ministry’s PSI;
Open repositories for publications in a specific subject area (e.g.,
PubMedCentral in US and UK);
Free university curricula and lectures online (e.g., the MIT
OpenCourseWare);
E-government initiatives (e.g., data.gov.uk, many others worldwide); and
Emerging discipline or applications commons, peer production of info, and
integrated thematic open knowledge environments (e.g., virtual
observatories, wiki encyclopedias, sub-discipline OKEs).
LAPSI Conference
1. What are the most efficient and effective digital commons models to replace the
print system for public sector information?
2. What public (treaties, legislation, and regulation) and private law (licenses,
contracts) changes need to be made to optimize access and re-use of PSI? For noncopyrightable data versus copyrightable information?
3. What are the full quantitative and qualitative economic and social benefits of
digital commons, particularly their network effects?
4. How can we design better incentive and reward mechanisms to encourage the
producers and managers of PSI to adopt digital commons models and PSI users to
exploit the information?
5. How can we get more sociologists, information economists, information and
administrative lawyers, and policy experts to work productively on these and related
issues?
LAPSI Conference
Additional works by the author on this topic (all available freely online):
 Uhlir, P., ed., “Bits of Power: Issues in Global Access to Scientific Data” (NAS,
1997)
 Uhlir, P. and Esanu, J., eds., “The Role of S&T Data and Information in the Public
Domain” (NAS, 2003)
 Reichman, J.H. and Paul F. Uhlir, “A Contractually Reconstructed Research
Commons for Scientific Data in a Highly Protectionist Intellectual Property
Environment,” 66 Law & Contemporary Problems 315-462 (2003)
 Uhlir, P., “Policy Guidelines for the Development and Promotion of
Governmental Public Domain Information” (UNESCO, 2004)
 Esanu, J. and Uhlir, P., eds., “Open Access and the Public Domain in Digital Data
and Information for Science” (NAS, 2004)
 Uhlir & Schröder, “Open Data for Global Science”, Data Science Journal
(CODATA, 2007).
 Uhlir, P., ed., “The Socioeconomic Effects of Public Sector Information on Digital
Networks” (NAS, 2009)
 Reichman, J.H., Tom Dedeurwaerdere, Paul F. Uhlir, “Designing the Microbial
Research Commons: New Strategies for Accessing, Managing, and Using
Essential Public Knowledge Assets” (forthcoming, 2012).