possibly new legislation (on this Stallman agrees). This central issue about the future of innovation should not be left to the innovation of lawyers, the mandarins of our culture, pushing courts to see how "this" is just like "that."
And it should not be left to boycotts. For th0ugh I can understand how Stallman might call a company immoral for taking from the government's monopoly dole, the real responsibility here belongs to Congress. Amazon has shareholders; its management will act to maximize its return, given the legal opportunities available. And while its founder may have joined the ranks of "a pioneer, royalty and a revolutionary," Bezos is still a businessman. We don't leave public policy to business.
- Lawrence Lessig is Berkman Professor of Law at Harvard Law School.
