For content creators to get their work to the public, there have always been publishers and distributors who set prices and control the channels of distribution. Will the internet cut these content distributors out of the loop, or will they become even more powerful gatekeepers to who has access to music, news, novels, and information in the digital age? Are there economic models that allow both open access and economic viability for creators and distributors? This session will explore some ways in which open access can actually provide a competitive business advantage.

Now that the music labels have sued 6,000 college kids and universities are spending more on anti-plagiarism software than on student art exhibitions, you'd think young people would finally grok the message that sharing is bad. But as this session demonstrates, a cadre of dedicated artists, musicians, and activists are offering digital creators an end-run around broadcast flags and RIAA summonses--from a CD by renowned musicians who encourage sampling to an online environment for sharing art and code to a semantic search engine for remixable art and video. Participants include Creative Commons Deputy Director Neeru Paharia, Internet artist Tim Whidden, Still Water Co-founder Joline Blais, and philosopher Dylan Suzanne