NBER and SOPA/PIPA

The National Bureau of Economic Research has made all working papers more than three years old available for free download.

I am sending them the following:

I noticed your new policy of making older working papers freely available via SSRN.

You have struck a fair, even generous, balance between the public interest, your legitimate organizational interest, and the legitimate interests of your contributors and their organizations. You are setting a rare example at a time when the legitimate concept of intellectual property is being perverted by corporate rent seekers and their bought-and-paid-for politicians.

This infrequent user of SSRN and an even more infrequent user of NBER is taking a moment to say: thank you.

Beau geste.