This is a review of the book by Jonathan Zittrain, 'one of a group of technically literate legal scholars who have clarified what's at stake politically, economically, and culturally in choices about the architecture of the new media.' The review notes: 'At the core of his thinking is a distinction between what he calls 'generative' and 'sterile' technologies. Generative technologies allow anyone to build upon them without permission, whereas sterile technologies are controlled by their manufacturer or owner. The generative/sterile distinction isn't exactly the same as the one between open-source and proprietary software. Microsoft's operating systems are proprietary, but in Zittrain's terms they're nonetheless generative because they can be built upon without Microsoft's approval.' Paul Starr, The American Prospect, August 13, 2008.