"The first wave of imperial expansion in the 18th and 19th centuries took
out national treasures.  The second wave is taking out
information.  Developing countries want it back.

"There are possibly huge financial windfalls in data about a country's
flora and fauna -- there could be a new strain of corn that ripens twice in
a season or a cure for the common cold.  Having seen the enormous profits
taken by companies like Monsanto, many in the developing world want to
erect walls around their data.  Onlly if the right institutional and
governmental agreements are in place will it be possible to create the
community of trust upon which data sharing thrives."

Geoffrey Bowker, On the web, everything except sharing, San Jose Mercury
News, April 21, 2005, B.

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