Commons-based peer production

Commons-based peer production (CBPP) is a term coined by Harvard Law School professor Yochai Benkler to describe a model of socio-economic production in which groups of individuals cooperate with each other to produce shared resources without traditional hierarchical organization. This system is characterized by decentralized coordination, non-monetary incentives, and the creation of commons-based resources that are freely accessible to all. The most prominent example is Wikipedia, but it also includes projects like Linux and other free and open-source software.

The key characteristics of CBPP include: collaboration among large groups of individuals working cooperatively without market signals or managerial commands, the use of open source licensing to ensure resources remain freely available, and a governance structure that emerges from the community rather than being imposed from above. This model challenges traditional economic theories by demonstrating how complex, high-quality products can be created through voluntary collaboration rather than market mechanisms or corporate hierarchies.

CBPP represents a significant shift in how goods, particularly information and cultural products, can be produced in the digital age. It intersects with concepts like the sharing economy, digital commons, and peer-to-peer networks, demonstrating how technology enables new forms of social production. The success of CBPP projects has influenced thinking about alternative economics, collaborative governance, and the potential for more democratic and participatory forms of production in various sectors beyond software and content creation.