The law should regulate in certain areas of culture — but it should regulate culture only where that regulation does good. Yet lawyers rarely test their power, or the power they promote, against this simple pragmatic question: "Will it do good?" When challenged about the expanding reach of the law, the lawyer answers, "Why not?"
We should ask, "Why?" Show me why your regulation of culture is needed. Show me how it does good. And until you can show me both, keep your lawyers away.


Free Culture (2004)

Lawrence Lessig Quotes

The law should regulate in certain areas of culture — but it should regulate culture only where that regulation does good. Yet lawyers rarely test...

The law should regulate in certain areas of culture — but it should regulate culture only where that regulation does good. Yet lawyers rarely test...

The law should regulate in certain areas of culture — but it should regulate culture only where that regulation does good. Yet lawyers rarely test...

The law should regulate in certain areas of culture — but it should regulate culture only where that regulation does good. Yet lawyers rarely test...