Technology and the Public Interest
Books, essays, and commentary from John Palfrey
Essays
Notes from AI Action Summit in Delhi, India, February 2026
Reflections on AI, governance, and the public interest from the AI Action Summit in Delhi.
Read essayConcord Free Public Library 150th Anniversary Celebration
Remarks on libraries, civic institutions, and the enduring importance of public knowledge.
Read essayInvesting in the Arts—in Chicago and Beyond
Thoughts on philanthropy, culture, and why investing in the arts matters for public life.
Read essayCommentary from John Palfrey
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Greenspan on IP: full text of speech
I didn’t like the sound of yesterday’s Alan Greenspan testimony that touched on IP from the news reports, but the full text makes it sound less ominous. Pretty learned guy, or else well-briefed by his speechwriters. He’s certainly not missed the productivity gains of new technologies. I just wonder where he thinks the “balance” should…
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Over-reaching
I have a recurring feeling that the MPAA and the RIAA may just have over-reached this past week. The lawsuit against college students by the RIAA is, definitely, a change in strategy: going after customers, and young, tech-savvy ones at that, rather than at technologists who were in the role of middle-persons. The state-level super-DMCAs…
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Another posting of Massachusetts super-DMCA testimony
More testimony from Matt at the MA super-DMCA hearing on Wednesday. I hope people in other states are paying attention and re-use some of the very good points from competent technical people about why these proposed laws are a bad idea.
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EFF: "What you can do" about super-DMCAs
The ever-vigilant, ever-activist Electronic Frontier Foundation tells you what you can do to fight the patently absurd super-DMCAs being proposed in lots of states around country.
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Liveblogging from Duke: IP and public goods conference
Diane Cabell is liveblogging a cool conference at Duke on intellectual property and the public domain. Sounds like lots of focus on TRIPS and other international accords. The webcast is available here.
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Rebuttals to Orlowski's provocative googlewashing piece
Check out MicroDot News and Dave Winer. Is all publicity good publicity for Jim Moore and the Second Superpower idea? And are we the manipulators or the manipulated?
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OSCOM Conference Announced; to be held at HLS in Cambridge
The OSCOM organizers have formally announced their conference. Keynotes: Dave Winer, Jon Udell (=> I suspect that blogs will be discussed). The Berkman Center at HLS is a proud sponsor. The initial response to the conference has been terrific.
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Alan Greenspan weighs in on Intellectual Property
CNN is reporting a statement by the Fed Chair Alan Greenspan about the importance of legal measures to protect intellectual property. His brief statement mentions “balance,” which is certainly a good thing. And raising awareness about the way in which we strike such a balance is certainly important. But for some reason this statement strikes…
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New Dean of Harvard Law School: Professor Elena Kagan
The Gazette has the news first. Very good news, at that.
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42 days? For Jim's story, closer to 42 hours.
Jim Moore’s provocative Second Superpower piece is pegged as the first major “googlewash.” This story tears me in all sorts of directions. A quote: “…Moore is an overnight A-list blogging superstar, at his very first attempt.”
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All-School meeting at HLS today
Dean R. Clark and President L. Summers have just called for an all-school meeting at 1:45 today for an “important announcement.” Sounds like we’ll have a new dean this afternoon.
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IDG calls the day a "road bump" for MPAA
Paul Roberts wrote a nice wire story about the Massachusetts hearing today. The last quote is a good one: “When you’ve got Verizon, the American Electronics Association, Harvard Law School, and the ponytail gang all against you, then you’ve got a problem.”