History shows that revolutions come with a price tag and the "information revolution" through which we are living is no exception. We are only now beginning to understand the economic and humanitarian tolls along the information superhighway and how much the evolution into a worldwide information economy is really costing humanity on a global scale. The ISP's Access to Knowledge (A2K) program aims to build an intellectual framework that will protect access to knowledge both as the basis for sustainable human development and to safeguard human rights.

The goal of the A2K program is to support the development and adoption of effective access to knowledge policies. Originating in concerns over international law’s increasingly unbalanced approach to intellectual property, A2K now encompasses a host of issues affecting access to knowledge, including media openness, access to information and communication technology, access to governmental, patent, and health information, open-access scholarship, spectrum allocation, interoperability standards, and the preservation of traditional knowledge. The ISP's commitment to protecting and expanding access to knowledge will encourage broader participation in cultural, civic, and educational affairs, help realize the benefits of scientific and technological advancement, and inspire innovation, development, and social progress across the globe.