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The Internet has advanced a new type of innovation where startup companies and open source software projects collaborate in a loosely knit web, allowing people and companies to share and compete without asking permission -- a major departure from the original proprietary innovation model. Current open network innovation began at the computer networking and communication technology layers and has since moved up the "stack". Leading edge software, including Apache, Firefox and Linux has emerged from the "commons," and user-generated content such as Wikipedia is increasingly created by amateurs. Joichi Ito, former board member of ICANN and the Open Source Initiative and currently CEO of Creative Commons and board member of the Mozilla Foundation, speaks about the business and culture of the sharing economy and illustrates how Creative Commons will enable an explosion of innovation at the content and user community layer. Ito argues that social, political and economic impediments notwithstanding, Japan must adapt to this small company-oriented, fast-paced environment if it is to play a meaningful role in the new economy.
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