Intellectual Property Law

Stanford Law professor Larry Lessig says that he's decided against a run for Congress.

The iconic figure of the free culture movement said that a recent consultation with a pollster convinced him that he wouldn't be able to win the special election that's scheduled for April 8.

The seat for the 12th congressional district of California opened up after Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., died of cancer early February.

The pollster found that long-time California politician Jackie Speier, who announced her intention to run for Lantos' seat last year, would have been impossible to beat, Lessig said in an online video with his announcement. Lantos had endorsed Speier before his death.
 
Lessig said that a failed bid would have harmed the launch of his Change Congress initiative, which is an effort to eliminate the influence of money on Capitol hill.

"If the aim of this was to convince others of the salience of a change congress movement, of its potential to inspire success, and to draw attention and support, then losing big in the first important battle is not an effective strategy," he said. "My running and losing big would do more harm than good for that movement."

Lessig first announced his interest in running for Congress last Tuesday evening. He made the announcement after several of his friends and supporters started a Draft Lessig group online on a web site and on Facebook.

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