[Upd-discuss] a longer term strategy for promoting the public domain?

[Rufus Pollock - Open Knowledge Foundation]

David Tannenbaum wrote:
> snip ....
> 
> Although the government advises users on how to determine  whether 
> material is copyrighted and on copyright exceptions, and advises authors 
> on how to prevent anyone from using material without permission, the 
> site doesn't provide a definition of "public domain," let alone any info 
> on how to release material for free use.
> 
> You can comment on these omissions by writing to The UK Patent Office at 
> enquiries@patent.gov.uk.

Thanks to James and David for this interesting and valuable info. However your
suggestion for writing to the patent office raises a question in my mind, one
which i think has been raised by indirectly by others, namely:

Be it in the UK or elsewhere what should be the strategy for remedying the
imbalance/bias in the debate over innovation, the bias so amply demonstrated
by http://www.intellectual-property.gov.uk?

Writing to the UK patent office doesn't seem to be a very
effective solution given their mindset. It would be rather like pin pricks on
an elephant. Surely there must be more attractive targets?

Moreover I feel that it would be useful to have some overall, and longer term
plan as to how to promote awareness of the public domain and remedy the
constant biasing of the innovation/creativity debate in the favour of
(stronger) IP. Otherwise one will simply end up running around expending one's
energy fire-fighting on minor issues or attempting to influence the wrong groups.

To distill my question to the list: 'We want to expand awareness of the public
domain and its importance and correct the imbalance in the IP debate. How is
this to be done? What is the long term plan?

Specifically:
0. Is it possible to me more specific about the end goal? For example, does
one want changes to the legal system, greater awareness of the issue or
changes in the amount and availability of public domain works.
1. Who should one seek to influence (e.g. in the UK: should it be the patent
office, the Prime Minister, the Department of Media, Culture and Sport, the DTI?)?
2. How does one campaign? For example: academic research, lobbying of the
government, media attention etc?

Regards,

Rufus Pollock