# Manifesto part 2: Information wasn't always free > Anyone can duplicate anything, instantly, invisibly, for free. We assume this is an improvement. Is it? When we kept everything on paper, generating information came with a cost. Paper cost money. Typing out a document took real effort. Duplicating a document meant a trip to the photocopier. Every document produced was a tangible thing. It was there, on your desk. You couldn't ignore it. Now anyone can duplicate anything, instantly, invisibly, for free. We assume this is an improvement. Is it?