For people interested in the information commons, here

are two sites worth visiting:

• Lawrence Lessig is circulating a petition

  asking Congress to pass a "Public Domain Enhancement Act. This statute would

  require American copyright owners to pay a very low fee (for example, $1) fifty

  years after a copyrighted work was published. If the owner pays the fee, the copyright

  will continue for whatever duration Congress sets. But if the copyright is not

  worth even $1 to the owner, then we believe the work should pass into the public

  domain."

• The American Library Association has a new "commons-blog,"

  devoted to issues of intellectual property. The ALA is a powerful resource for

  civic work and a supporter of the public domain. Librarians run important civic

  institutions in communities and schools; they are custodians of intellectual property

  that people can use for free; and they promote deliberation. The ALA has what

  the whole public-interest movement most desperately needs: an active, knowledgeable,

  grassroots base. Leaders of the ALA, such as Nancy Kranich, a recent President

  whom I know, are aware of their civic role.