The document discusses access to knowledge (A2K) and open infrastructures. It presents A2K as a theoretical framework and social movement regarding intellectual property, technology, and access. Open infrastructures are argued to be key to improving access to knowledge and supporting human development goals by enabling greater participation and efficiency. However, questions remain about balancing open systems with cultural preservation needs. The role of philosophers is to help address questions around moral obligations, responsibility, and distributive justice in online and knowledge environments.

1. Access to Knowledge and
Philosophy of Technology
Eddan Katz
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Hale Lecture on Ethics
September 20, 2007
Wednesday, December 29, 2010 1

2. What is Access to Knowledge
(A2K)?
• Theoretical Framework for understanding the
knowledge economy
• Social Movement of technology, intellectual
property, access to medicines, etc. activists from
developed and developing countries
• Draft Treaty and Development Agenda at the
World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO)
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3. A2K & Philosophy
• Origins of Access to Knowledge is at the
intersection of innovation and development
• Led by technology policy activists, law &
technology centers, law professors & economists
• Yale ISP leading intellectual framing and
movement-building
• Set of questions that need to be worked through
and supported by philosophers
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4. My Thesis
• Access to Knowledge is key to the attainment of
human development and human rights
• Open Infrastructures are key to improving access
to knowledge
• Can an ethics of the good support the claim that
open infrastructures are key to A2K?
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5. History of IP & International
Trade
• What is similar between designer handbags,
hollywood movies, and genetically modified food?
• IP alliance formed between agri-biotech,
copyright alliance, and anti-counterfeiting.
• Agenda to shift IP as the domain of international
trade and set out harmonized global regime
• Exploit anxieties about US trade deficit - claim
about maximizing IP protection as key to
maintaining hegemony in knowledge economy.
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6. Knowledge & Information
Theory
• Information - basic facts, news, weather, government
documents
• Knowledge - education, artisan and technical skill
• Knowledge-Embedded Goods - pharmaceuticals,
agricultural seeds, computer software
• Knowledge-Embedded Tools - internet infrastructure,
technical standards, research databases
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7. Regime-Shifting & Public
Choice Theory
• Small multi-national corporate alliance first
drafting of IP regime wish list.
• Frustrated by WIPO, alliance moves to WTO.
Passes TRIPs.
• Trade negotiations with developing countries.
TRIPs-Plus Agenda
• Harmonization & Resistance. Special 301 - USTR
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8. Development Agenda &
Cyber-Activism
• South Centre, ICTSD, KEI and others create
PCDA - working group at WIPO.
• Reform WIPO on subject matter, technical
assistance, and flexibilities of implementation
• This week confirmed recommendations to
General Assembly at WIPO
• Upcoming interpretive battle over impact on
WIPO activities
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9. A2K Country Study Topics
• Agriculture: seed patents, distributed scientific research; farmer's rights
• Health: access to medicines, access to information about health;
informed consent
• Science: scientific publication & IP, open access journals; distributed
databases
• Genetic Resources: traditional medicine; varietal protection; clinical
trials
• Education: IP & textbooks; distance learning; open educational
resources
• Culture: mass media & new media; creative commons; digital piracy
• Traditional Knowledge: indigenous culture; community benefit-sharing
• Software: free and open source; DRM/anti-circumvention; values in
design
• Libraries: copyright exceptions & limitations; community access; public
domain
• ICT: mobile technology, telecentres, universal service; broadband access
• Infrastructure: internet governance; technical barriers to trade;
standards
• Information: transparency & democracy; ownership of information;
privacy
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10. A2K Claims - Development
• Human Development - essential needs: food
security, medicine, education, partic. in culture
• Social Justice - distributive. Not opportunities in
the form of rights.
• Technology & Competition Policy - dependent on
economic development & cultural context
• Spurring information & knowledge production in
these areas (info, knowledge, KEG, KET) will
improve people’s lives
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11. A2K Claims - Open
Infrastucture
• Open Infrastructures are better for efficiency and
production. (e.g., open source, wikipedia, p2p (vs.
drm)
• Open infrastructure enable greater freedom and
individual participation. Modifiability; tailoring to
local needs
• Peer Production - non-market voluntarism.
Modularity, Granularity, Integration.
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12. Open Access Journals
• Increasing monopoly over publication of schoalrly
materials.
• Built on top of regime of exclusive rights in
copyright
• Reputation economy - entrenched publication
hierarchy
• Economy of Ideas - Value grows with greater
distribution
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13. Historical Moment
• Will information and knowledge production
continue to be dominated by large corporate
entities in a centralized structure?
• or Will information production be distributed
across greater number of people, from all around
the world? Strategy is one of participation.
• This is dependent on international technology
policy.
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14. Questions for Philosophers
• What is the status of moral obligation within
open infrastructures & online communities?
• Where is the source of responsibility in network
infrastructures?
• How can the open infrastructures be reconciled
with reactionary cultural preservation &
sanctification of knowledge?
• Can distributive justice claims be globalized or is
it a question for national policy?
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