Don't miss Siva Vaidhyanathan guest-blogging over @ Larry's in the midst of a tour to support of his latest tour-de-force, The Anarchist in the Library:

Snippet:

How influential is the Free Culture Movement and the book that gives it its name? One way to judge is by measuring the ferocity of the opposition.

Those who have pushed for copyright maximization over the past decade or so have been able to do so unfettered by inconveniences like public deliberation or even serious attention.

The public interest side has until recently lacked a vocabulary, and agenda, and a bibliography. It also lacked a lobby and a vocal constituency. So the maximalists – those who strive for a permission (and payment) culture have smiled through these radical years, knowing that nothing anyone says will disrupt their march toward complete privatization of culture.

Until now. Now maximalists are panicking. People everywhere object to their excesses and tactics. People are reading books that outline the values, the movement, and the strategies that might help free up the symbols, words, and ideas that we all rely on in a Democratic republic and a creative economy.

I know this because the maximalists are sinking to ad hominem attacks.