"The commons to me is a place where ordinarypeople can go more or less for free and create andlearn and play, and do it with tools that arereally good and open," he said.

On the Internet, Nesson suggested, creatingsuch a commons would involve strong encryption,limited government regulation, and free and opencompetition.

The Power of a Name

Nesson said part of the reason the conferenceis able to attract top-of-the-line speakers isbecause it fills a unique niche.

"There are bigger conferences, but mostconferences are project oriented, and this is ideaoriented," he said.

But, according to Nesson, it doesn't hurt to beHarvard, either.

"The Harvard invitation itself is verypowerful," Nesson said. "People like to comehere."

The University's wide range of resources alsohelped the conference attract industry leaders,according to Linda L. Greyser, Associate Directorof Programs in Professional Education and co-chairof the conference's educational track.

"A whole range of fields are covered at theconference," she said. "If any individual schooldid it, it would be much more narrow."

Nesson said the conference tried to attractrepresentatives of four major groups: establishedcapital, venture capital, non-profit organizationsand academia.

The conference "attracted a very substantialmix" of participants "including plenty of bigplayers," Nesson said.

The conference's infrequence may also make it amore important event.

Holding the conference every other year,Greyser suggested, allows organizers to focustheir resources on one conference and spendadditional time organizing.

A Lasting Impact?

Despite its success engaging industry leadersin dialogues on important topics, the conference'sorganizers say their event's true success shouldbe measured by the kinds of change the conferencebrings about, rather than the kinds of change itdiscusses.