Your task is to choose either:

Now, there are already cases being disputed and arguments being made that are important to aspects of these issues. To make a convincing argument, you need to address these. If you agree with one perspective, you must explain why, and why you disagree with others. If your perspective diverges from those we've encountered, you need to explain why yours is superior.

So be sure to address the relevant legal decision pertaining to the issue you choose. But, remember also not to be limited by the cases. The Napster and DeCSS disputes are only part of what will be decided about how these issues should work. Contextualize those concerns with others (either from class or your own concerns) so that your policy addresses multiple dimensions of the issue.

Try to think not only about how things should work, but why. What are the goals that your policy will best achieve? Whose interests will be best served, and whose will have to be compromised? Why is your policy the best balance of those interests? What, with your policy, will the Net become?

Notice also that I said "cultural policy". While most of the class has focused on the law, you can also discuss other ways that your goals around this issue might be pursued.

This sounds big, and it is. So think carefully about how much you can cover in 6-8 pages and in the time we have left. Plan it out. Think about what I'd be looking for -- an understanding of the different arguments involved, the broader picture of how the issue interacts with cultural goals and social interests, and the even broader picture of how our culture thinks about authorship, law, technology, etc.

One absolute requirement: you must incorporate or address at least one of the more theoretical discussions we read for classes 2 or 3 [that is, Plato, Young, Foucault, Becker, Rose, Jaszi, Boyle, or Gaines]. You are of course permitted to reference more than one of these, or any of the other readings.

As help if you want it, three of the books we read are on reserve. Each has a concluding chapter that tries to lay out what that author thinks might be a useful adjustment or alternative to the existing law. Feel free to look at any or all of these, though they are completely optional:

* James Boyle, from Shamans, Software, and Spleens -- ch 13, "Proposals and Objections"
* Lawrence Lessig, from Code, and Other Laws of Cyberspace -- ch 16, "Responses"
* Jessica Litman, from Digital Copyright -- ch 12, "Revising Copyright Law for the Information Age"

Your essay is due on Saturday, August 4th. It should be 6 - 8 pages long; do not roll onto that ninth page. I will be in my office (MCC 248) between 10am and 12noon. You must have your paper to me by then; late papers lose a full grade every day. If you want to hand a paper in early, slip it under my office door and send me an e-mail saying so. And, again, again, again, pay attention to the quality of the writing; making sure it is sharp, lucid, and engaging will matter most for this assignment. And have fun.