The world’s most dynamic event on
global digital culture comes to Japan
29 July - 1 August, 2008

Once a year, people from around the world
come together to talk about a free culture for all
on the Internet

Artists, musicians, entrepreneurs,
philosophers, lawyers, activists, technologists,
educators and free-thinkers from all continents

And in this mountain of difference, there is
one ideal that we share:

A free digital culture

A digital culture
Where creativity is compensated

A digital culture
That continues the free sharing of knowledge
and creativity that built the first Internet

A digital culture
That allows us to see the possibilities
before our eyes

A digital culture
That makes it possible for us to do what we
were born to do

CREATE

Without traditional controls
that hamper the new potential of
digital creativity

The iSummit is a celebration of that creativity
and the power of the internet to enable
human development
and global cultural exchange

It is an annual exploration of the emerging
opportunities for co-ownership, co-creation and
widespread distribution and sharing of knowledge,
ideas and creativity in the digital age.

In 2005, the iSummit was born at the Berkman
Center, Harvard University: birthplace of
Creative Commons and of new ideals of Net
politics and culture
Pic by creative commons on Flickr, CC BY http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccsummit/60871323/in/photostream

In 2006, the iSummit moved to Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil: a country breaking new ground in the
development of digital cultural production as a
sustainable community resource.
Pic by Fred Benenson on Flickr, CC BY SA http://flickr.com/photos/fcb

In 2007, the iSummit was held in Dubrovnik,
Croatia - a city that has redefined freedom and
independence throughout history
Pic by Fred Benenson on Flickr, CC BY SA http://flickr.com/photos/fcb/175222049/sizes/l/

This year, the iSummit comes to Sapporo City,
Japan - the Ideas City - host to the International
Short Film Festival, and quickly becoming
recognised as a hub for creativity and technology.

iSummit 2008 promises to the be the most
innovative iSummit yet - drawing from the
expertise of independent creative communities
from around the world to produce four days of
exploration, debate and a celebration of the
opportunities presented by the digital revolution
Kevin Driscoll & Jaroslaw Lipszyc by mecredis: Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic Blog TV by MildlyDiverting: BTY-NC-SA 2.0

keynotesKeynotes
from the world’s leading thinkers in commons-based
intellectual property management and the cultural
commons

Joi Ito
On digital innovation
Joichi Ito by Gyllene Skor CC BY-NC http://flickr.com/photos/gyllene_skor/
2125923551/

David Wiley
A celebration of 10 years of open content from the originator
of the first open content license
David Wiley on Flickr by unumediastudio CC BY-NC-SA
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54493249@N00/1208943685/

Erin McKean
on language as the ultimate
commons
Erin McKean at TED on Flick by Neil Hunt http://flickr.com/photos/nhunt/416025300/

Fireside chat with
Jimmy Wales
Pic on Flickr by Chrys CC BY-NC-SA http://flickr.com/photos/chrys/5591867/

Rishab Gosh
How people and companies
are able to innovate together

Workshops
Led by a diverse group of facilitators, curators and
workshop leaders, the iSummit seeks to be a truly global
initiative - drawing on the practice of peer production in
a variety of cultural and economic contexts
Pic on Flickr by hfordsa BB VY SA http://www.flickr.com/photos/hfordsa

a community at the cutting
edge of new ways to learn and
open education share in the Information Age
How people and companies
are able to innovate together
Open Education reportback by creativecommoners: Attribution 2.0 by mecredis: Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

emerging business models,
case studies and analysis of
the economic, political and
social implications of free
open research culture
Cory Doctorow by mecredis: Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic by mecredis: Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic

Regional showcases
of new approaches to digital distribution and ownership
from every continent
from Google Literacy Project www.google.com/literacy

Labs
An opportunity to connect people to projects
and ideas in a creative, stimulating and experimental environment
Fred Benenson at iSummit 08 Planning Workshop by iPhilipp on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iphilipp/2199094175/ CC BY

Exhibitions and installations
Global Lives installation at http://globallives.org/
MTAA

The iSummit Academy
The iCommons Academy where students of Free Culture
can learn from the world’s greatest professors in
intellectual property and digital distribution.
Pics by Joi Ito, iSummit07 on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/joi/sets/72157600353333608/ CC BY

Second Life
A parallel virtual iSummit in Second Life
Keynote Session 1 by uscpublicdiplomacy: Attribution-NoDerivatives 2.0

Evening events
A jam-packed social programme that explores the old and
the new of Japanese innovation and culture
samba night at icommons summit 06 by Fred Benenson on Flickr CC BY-SA http://www.flickr.com/photos/fcb/174263991/

A collaborative effort
More than just an event, the iSummit is a dynamic exercise
in global collaboration, with partners in Sapporo, Tokyo
and throughout the world working together to create long
term solutions for our digital creative future

The annual iSummit is the highlight
for those who are contributing to the digital pool of reusable culture,
knowledge and creativity that will empower new nations
for those who are exploring new opportunities for digital innovation
for those who are seeking to change the world, not dominate it

Will this be a time in history when
we enhance our creative footprint
and reach our potential together?
Pic by andy on Flickr CC BY SA http://www.flickr.com/photos/andy_5322/104324029/

Will you be a part of that change?
Submit proposals for participation, sponsorship and
friendship on http://icommons.org
29 July - 1 August, 2008