Title: Public information as a Commons: the case of ERT and the peer-to-peer prospect

Authors: Vasilis Kostakis; Chris Giotitsas

Addresses: Ragnar Nurkse School of Innovation and Governance, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia Street 3, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia ' Ragnar Nurkse School of Innovation and Governance, Tallinn University of Technology, Akadeemia Street 3, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia

Abstract: This paper deals with a new understanding of the public character of information, based on the alternative modes of property that came to the fore with the advent of commons-based peer production and the information commons. The case of the ERT digital archive is used to highlight the tension between the traditional understanding of state/public property and a new realisation inaugurated by commons-based peer production. Our objections to its current form are presented and the possibilities offered by peer alternatives are discussed. We conclude that, especially after recent developments in the case, state adoption of policies that conform to this new mode of production are imperative for the use, sharing and protection of public information.

Keywords: information commons; open source; public property; commons-based peer production; public information; ERT digital archive; peer-to-peer; information use; information sharing; information protection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEG.2013.058408

International Journal of Electronic Governance, 2013 Vol.6 No.3, pp.209 - 217

Received: 06 Apr 2013
Accepted: 27 Sep 2013
Published online: 22 Dec 2013 *

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