Legal theorist Lawrence Lessig, who has become an academic celebrity for his innovative work on cyberlaw and intellectual property in the digital age, made headlines late last year when he announced that he would be shifting his scholarly focus to the study of political corruption. But now a burgeoning online movement is urging the Stanford professor to tackle the problem head-on: they are seeking to draft Lessig to run for Congress, in a special election, scheduled for April 8, to replace the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), who succumbed to cancer last week.

Lawrence Lessig is one of the top legal minds in the country. With an extensive and dazzling array of accomplishments in areas ranging from Constitutional Law to Intellectual Property Law, Mr. Lessig has contributed significantly to legal scholarship and thinking internationally. But perhaps much more importantly - he is deeply interested in advancing discussion and thought about the "commons" and the corrosive impact that profit-minded short-term thinking may have on the future of communities all over the world. He stands as a Rousseauian - boldly stating the importance of public ownership and public good - in a world mired in tired narrow minded thinking and legislations. As a congressman he will have an incredible impact on the often dismal standards of dialog - not only about intellectual property but any policy.