Free Science, the Commons and Knowledge

The text critiques the universal imposition of intellectual property rights, such as the ACTA treaty, arguing that they are counter-productive and undemocratic. It proposes a 'collaborative economy' based on the concept of the commons, where digitised knowledge is treated as a non-rival good. The author suggests that alternatives like open-source licenses and 'software as a service' business models provide sustainable paths for innovation and distribution, contrasting these with the 'old' concept of scarcity and the restrictive legal measures used by traditional industries.

• The author contends that universal intellectual property rights, specifically citing the ACTA treaty, are undemocratic and inefficient, harming liberties and hindering the flow of creativity.
• Digitised knowledge is identified as a non-rival good that can be reproduced at zero marginal cost, which challenges traditional economic theories of scarcity and rivalry established by Adam Smith and Ricardo.
• A 'collaborative economy' is emerging through the use of mobile technology and social networks, enabling 'horizontal co-creation' in areas such as software design, Wikipedia editing, and the collective invention of energy-efficient cars.
• The framework of the commons, developed by Karl Polanyi and Elinor Ostrom, provides a model for managing resources that complements market economies and public authorities without replacing them.
• Sustainable business models for the commons exist, such as the freeware sector, which generates profit through services, training, and adaptation rather than charging for access to the software itself.

APA

Peugot, V. (2012). Free Science, the Commons and Knowledge. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/free-science-the-commons-and-knowledge/

Chicago

Peugot, Valerie. Free Science, the Commons and Knowledge. Green European Journal, 2012. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/free-science-the-commons-and-knowledge/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Peugot |first1=Valerie |title=Free Science, the Commons and Knowledge |publisher=Green European Journal |date=13 August 2012 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/free-science-the-commons-and-knowledge/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{peugot2012free, author = {Peugot, Valerie}, title = {{Free Science, the Commons and Knowledge}}, publisher = {Green European Journal}, year = {2012}, month = aug, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/free-science-the-commons-and-knowledge/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }