Elon University
The prediction, in brief:

Encryption will be the technical basis for most intellectual property protection. (And should, for many reasons, be made more widely available.)

Predictor: Barlow, John Perry

Prediction, in context:

In a 1994 essay for Wired magazine, John Perry Barlow, a co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, discusses patents and copyrights in the digital age. Barlow writes “I can make (or reiterate) a few flat statements that I earnestly believe won’t look too silly in 50 years.” Following is one of the statements: ”Encryption will be the technical basis for most intellectual property protection. (And should, for many reasons, be made more widely available.)”

Biography:

John Perry Barlow helped found the Electronic Frontier Foundation in 1990 with WELL (Whole Earth ‘Lectronic Link) members Mitch Kapor and John Gilmore in direct response to a threat to free speech. Barlow’s was one of the loudest voices in the battle to keep the Internet unfettered while still encouraging that it become a tool available to everyone. (Advocate/Voice of the People.)

Date of prediction: January 1, 1994

Topic of prediction: Controversial Issues

Subtopic: Copyright/Intellectual Property/Plagiarismy

Name of publication: Wired

Title, headline, chapter name: The Economy of Ideas: A Framework for Patents and Copyrights in the Digital Age (Everything You Know About Intellectual Property is Wrong)

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/2.03/economy.ideas_pr.html

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Anderson, Janna Quitney