Editing Lawrence Lessig (section)

== Views ==
Lessig is a proponent of reduced legal restrictions on [[copyright]], [[trademark]], and [[radio frequency]] spectrum, particularly in technology applications. In 2001, he founded [[Creative Commons]], a nonprofit organization devoted to expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon and to share legally. Prior to his most recent appointment at Harvard, he was a professor of law at [[Stanford Law School]], where he founded the Stanford Center for Internet and Society, and at the [[University of Chicago]]. He is a former board member of the [[Free Software Foundation]] and [[Software Freedom Law Center]]; the Washington, D.C. lobbying groups [[Public Knowledge]] and [[Free Press (advocacy group)|Free Press]]; and the [[Electronic Frontier Foundation]].<ref>Lessig, Lawrence. "[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122367645363324303 In Defense of Piracy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624083030/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122367645363324303 |date=June 24, 2018 }}". ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''. October 11, 2008.</ref> He was elected to the [[American Philosophical Society]] in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|title=APS Member History|url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=Lawrence+Lessig&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|access-date=2021-05-17|website=search.amphilsoc.org}}</ref>

As a political activist, Lessig has called for state-based activism to promote substantive reform of government with a [[Second Constitutional Convention of the United States|Second Constitutional Convention]].<ref name=twsNovQ11>{{cite news |author=Alesh Houdek |title=Has a Harvard Professor Mapped Out the Next Step for Occupy Wall Street? |work=The Atlantic |quote=Lawrence Lessig's call for state-based activism on behalf of a Constitutional Convention could provide the uprooted movement with a political project for winter |date=November 16, 2011 |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/11/has-a-harvard-professor-mapped-out-the-next-step-for-occupy-wall-street/247561/ |access-date=November 17, 2011 |archive-date=November 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117151718/http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/11/has-a-harvard-professor-mapped-out-the-next-step-for-occupy-wall-street/247561/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2014, he launched a crowd-funded [[political action committee]] that he entitled, [[Mayday PAC]], with the purpose of electing candidates to [[United States Congress|Congress]] who would pass [[Campaign finance reform in the United States|campaign finance reform]].<ref>Naureen Khan, May 2, 2014, Al Jazeera, [http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/5/2/a-super-pac-to-endallsuperpacs.html May Day PAC wants to end all Super PACs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140507023754/http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/5/2/a-super-pac-to-endallsuperpacs.html |date=May 7, 2014 }}, Accessed May 7, 2014, "kick-start May Day PAC, which, if successful, will help elect enough like-minded lawmakers to Congress in 2014 and 2016 to pass campaign finance reform&nbsp;... 'Yes, we want to spend big money to end the influence of big money,' Lessig said"</ref> Lessig is also the co-founder of [[Rootstrikers]], and is on the boards of [[MapLight]] and [[Represent.Us]].<ref>Maplight. [http://maplight.org/board "Board Members"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310105255/http://maplight.org/board |date=March 10, 2012 }} at MapLight.org</ref> He serves on the advisory boards of the ''Democracy Café''<ref>[http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/news/penn-alum-lawrence-lessig-speak-national-constitution-center-democracy-caf/ Penn Alum Lawrence Lessig to Speak at National Constitution Center for Democracy Café] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505124028/http://www.upenn.edu/pennnews/news/penn-alum-lawrence-lessig-speak-national-constitution-center-democracy-caf |date=May 5, 2014 }} Penn News, March 14, 2013</ref> and the [[Sunlight Foundation]].<ref>[http://sunlightfoundation.com/board_of_directors/ Board and Advisory Board] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016012604/http://sunlightfoundation.com/board_of_directors/ |date=October 16, 2010 }} Sunlight Foundation, February 14, 2011</ref>

In August 2015, Lessig announced that he was exploring a possible candidacy for president of the United States, promising to run if his exploratory committee raised $1 million by [[Labor Day]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/harvard-professor-hits-dollar1m-benchmark-for-white-house-bid/ar-AAe0WvJ?ocid=ansmsnnews11|title=Harvard professor hits M benchmark for White House bid|work=msn.com|access-date=September 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085950/http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/harvard-professor-hits-dollar1m-benchmark-for-white-house-bid/ar-AAe0WvJ?ocid=ansmsnnews11|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="why">{{cite web | url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/2016-elections/lawrence-lessig-running-for-president-20150811 | title=Why Exactly Is Lawrence Lessig Considering Running for President? | work=[[National Journal]] | date=August 11, 2015 | access-date=August 11, 2015 | author=Foran, Clare | archive-date=August 13, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150813221120/http://www.nationaljournal.com/2016-elections/lawrence-lessig-running-for-president-20150811 | url-status=live }}</ref> After accomplishing this, on September 6, 2015, Lessig announced that he was entering the race [[Lawrence Lessig presidential campaign, 2016|to become a candidate]] for the 2016 [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] [[Democratic Party presidential candidates, 2016|presidential nomination]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Walker|first1=Hayley|title=Harvard Professor Larry Lessig Says He's Running for President|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/harvard-professor-larry-lessig-running-president/story?id=33568066|access-date=September 6, 2015|work=ABC News|date=September 6, 2015|archive-date=September 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907091045/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/harvard-professor-larry-lessig-running-president/story?id=33568066|url-status=live}}</ref> Lessig described his candidacy as a referendum on [[Campaign finance reform in the United States|campaign finance reform]] and [[electoral reform]] legislation. He stated that, if elected, he would serve a full term as president with his proposed reforms as his legislative priorities.<ref name="Marans">{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lawrence-lessig-totally-stupid-resign-presidency_5622acdde4b02f6a900c9bad|title=Lawrence Lessig Withdraws 'Totally Stupid' Plan To Resign Presidency|last=Marans|first=Daniel|date=October 17, 2015|work=Huffington Post|access-date=31 October 2015|archive-date=January 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102054443/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/lawrence-lessig-totally-stupid-resign-presidency_5622acdde4b02f6a900c9bad|url-status=live}}</ref> He ended his campaign in November 2015, citing rule changes from the Democratic Party that precluded him from appearing in the televised debates.<ref name="Graham"/><ref>{{Cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4IsqmMqCEo | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/u4IsqmMqCEo| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=The Democrats have changed the rules |date=2015-11-02 |last=Lessig2016.us}}{{cbignore}}</ref>