Workshop on Asia and Commons

What is the place of the commons in Asia

• Asia newness to the copyright culture
• Asia’s relationship with sharing cultures

Difference between Asia Commons and CC Asia?

• CC Asia smaller part
• Comparative research project on geneology of commons in Asia – history and landscape
• Data – shows high penetration of CC, but low legal understanding

Diverse views of commons in Asia

Not a lot of information on what CC means, or what copyright is

• Should CC be promoted or focus on greater understanding of copyright gen
• Move towards CC is still a move towards more openness for material
• Maybe push more restrictive licences first, then move towards liberal as comfortable
• Use commons model to educate people about copyright before strict rules come in
• There is an alternative to TRIPs etc – there is another way of having IP protection without locking everything up – which is more conducive to developing countries
• Way of protecting creators rights and freedoms, rather than IP systems – they have freedom to share
• Copyright is coming, so important to build constituency who understands their freedoms

What does the commons mean for politics in Asia?

Definition?

• Different understandings of copyright (law and history), so different understanding of commons
• Not one understanding across Asia – specific to specific countries
• Need to develop different strategies for different countries
• Education important

Focus on freedom = overrated?

• Shouldn’t be uncritical in discussion of ‘freedom’
• What other ways of talking about commons – sharing? Sharism culture?
• ‘Public goods’ – like healthcare tradition
• New terminology for discussion of commons in Asia?

Should commons be social movement or legal movement in Asia?

• Focus on sharism
• Very big focus in CC on legal at moment – makes it hard for people to understand
• Focus on implications for users – dangers, opportunities etc – rather than freedoms etc
• Need to keep legal part too – need to make sure people aren’t harmed if within legal system
• Can you divide between the two? Need to go hand in hand
• Maybe need to develop legal education/knowledge – then social can take over
• Is what the law doesn’t say now more important that what it does say?

Licensing tendencies in Asia

• Countries with more restrictive licences -

Discussion from workshop needs to be followed through

• Meeting in Sapporo
• Discussion list
• Compare with discussion in Bangkok

Bangkok plans – documented on Asia Commons wiki

• How do you counter IP propaganda?
• Collabor

This workshop has had more users – rather than just academics – brings fresh perspective – make it real

Shared resources – important for moving forward

• Get more case studies from Asia region
• What other shared actions can we take in 6 months leading up to iSummit
• Small elements from individual users that add up to

Separate meeting to focus on sharism etc – don’t have separate ‘Asia’ track – lessons from Asia and non-anglo perspectives for whole of commons community.

Need preparation