According to David Bollier, the commons is:

• All the things we collectively own and have an obligation to pass onto future generations undiminished.
• Things we must protect and share: air, water, etc.
• Moral, personal connection
• The commons occurs whenever a community gets together and says that they want to manage a resource for the benefit of themselves/community roughly equitably and sustainably.
• The commons adapts to local conditions
• it always has common principles:
  • inclusiveness
  • make your own rules
  • punishments
• production, consumption, governance are linked.