Public Knowledge is a public-interest advocacy organization dedicated to fortifying and defending a vibrant information commons. This Washington, D.C. based group works with wide spectrum of stakeholders -- libraries, educators, scientists, artists, musicians, journalists, consumers, software programmers, civic groups and enlightened businesses -- to promote the core conviction that some fundamental democratic principles and cultural values -- openness, access, and the capacity to create and compete -- must be given new embodiment in the digital age.

Public Knowledge will seek to fulfill four broad goals:

• Ensuring that U.S. intellectual property law and policy reflect the "cultural bargain" intended by the framers of the constitution: providing an incentive to creators and innovators while benefiting the public through the free flow of information and ideas.

• Preserving an Internet that is built upon open standards and protocols and "end-to-end" architecture, thereby fostering innovation and user control.

• Protecting consumers of digital technology from market practices designed to erode competition, choice and fairness.

• Ensuring that international intellectual property policies are adopted through democratic processes and with public interest participation.