Digital Windmills

My last few posts, have tried to address some of the issues voiced by Lawrence Lessig's book Freeculture. This is in no small part due to Lessig's eloquence as a speaker and charming writing style. His ability, unfortunately, far too rare among lecturers allows him to make potentially dull subjects interesting and interesting subjects riveting. Accordingly, I have been greatly enjoying this book and was looking forward to his conclusion. I was certain that the conclusion of this story would share the rational and insightful tone that despite the grim tone consistently comprised the lion share of this work.

Perhaps, this explains why the change in Lessig's tone when recounting the Eldred case and its aftermath was so affecting. Initially, I thought I was merely reacting to the self flagellating tone that increased as he recounted his disappointments. I realized that I was reacting to more than that. In his conclusion, Lessig shares his disillusionment with a system that has been very good to him. This disillusionment reminds us of an important lesson. Although, we may be able to listen to the audio of this case or read an analysis of it. This case is about both far more and far less than abstract theories abour ones and zeros. This is about the actions of individuals. A Wired Article published before the Eldred case perhaps provides the most important lesson Professor Lessig can offer the reader.

From the outside, it seems that Larry Lessig's existence has been privileged. Nice upbringing. Ivy League education, then Cambridge and top law schools. The best clerkships. Tenured law professor. And now an acclaimed author, speaker, and, ultimately, Supreme Court litigator. Yet he doesn't see it that way at all. "I always feel I should have been better at each of those steps. I bring to it this expectation that there's a lot more somebody else could have done."

"So far I've lost, lost at every level."

Yet he continues to try.

Lessig, Lawrence. Free Culture. New York: Penguin Books, 2004.

Levy, Steven. "Lawrence Lessig's Supreme Showdown." Wired 10 Oct. 2002. 1 Mar. 2007 <http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.10/lessig.html?pg=1&topic=&topic_set=>.