Yochai Benkler, Professor of Law at Yale Law School, will lead a discussion of commons-based peer production, intellectual property in a networked environment, and the effect of open collaboration on educational discourse. Benkler's recently published book The Wealth of Networks: How Social Production Transforms Markets and Freedom (Yale University Press, 2006), argues that new models of collaboration, enabled by technological innovation, are dramatically reshaping culture and economic relations, and in turn, human freedom and development. Exemplifying Benkler's interest in communal production, this work is available in its entirety online, and is the basis of a wiki that invites collaborative development of its themes.

Long a champion of unfettered exchange in networked environments, Benkler will describe new opportunities for educators as technology enables large-scale sharing of previously compartmentalized resources.

Date: Thursday, October 5, 2006, 4pm
Location: 523 Butler Library
Phone: (212) 854-9058