Category Archives: creative commons

We gave CreativeCommons a weblog and RSS feed this holiday season. It seems happy enough…. Continue reading →

There’s a wonderfully careful analysis of various CC issues at burningbird. Thank you. One point to clarify, however. CC licenses are, at this moment, at least, permanent, in the sense that the term is as long as copyright runs (and we’ll see whether that’s permanent or not soon enough). That issue was a tough one for us (I, of course, favor “limited terms”), and we’re eager for feedback on that issue.

But just because you can’t revoke a particular license doesn’t mean you can’t revoke the offer. If, for example, you offer content under a CC license for a month, and then change your mind, you can stop offering the content under that license. Anyone who accepted your offer while it was valid, of course, has a deal. But no one after you withdraw the offer can accept anymore.

Finally, my blog is licensed in the xml. Button coming soon. Continue reading →

I missed a string of comments about CC licenses and software. Shelley raises some great questions. Here’s the problem. We’re trying to develop tools to enable people to express their preferences as simply as possible. We can’t do much to make the underlying law simple.

I’ve tried to answer some of the questions in the extended entry. But I’m afraid Shelley will be right again: The answers will only raise more questions. There’s lots here to work out, and we can’t do all the working out. Continue reading →

Matt Croydon wonders about how CC licenses will interact with software. In a careless earlier version of this, I said they won’t. Sam Ruby suggests the most I could mean by that is that our energy will be directed elsewhere. Indeed, that’s the most I mean. We share RMS’s concern that there is a proliferation of licenses in software. And our view was that there was a dearth for other creative content. Thus we start outside the software world. But creative reuse of creative content is what CC is all about. My apologies for any confusion. Continue reading →

So just back to Japan after a quick trip to San Francisco to help many many extraordinary people launch Creative Commons. The event was fantastic, especially the Flash that explains our Licensing Project. Watch the flash, and check out the site. We are eager for feedback, and for ideas about where to go next.

I can’t begin to describe how grateful I am to everyone who made this happen. I am especially grateful to creators who have run with the licenses right away�heroes such as Cory Doctorow (who will be releasing under a CC license the entire text of his amazing book, Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom as a free, freely redistributable e-book on January 9th. But buy the book as a present. It is the best novel I’ve read in years), and Peter Wayner (who has licensed his Free for All under a CC license), and Tim O’Reilly (the first adopter of the “Founders’ Copyright”).

It is no accident that those who understand this are those closest to technology. Our challenge will be to find ways to explain it so other creators get it as well. If you have ideas, or ideas for new projects, please let us know. Our single, overarching aim: build the public domain, by building projects that expand the range of creative work available for others to build upon.

Meanwhile, thanks to everyone who helped make this happen. And check on this channel for more news as the project develops. Continue reading →

After many hours with lawyers, and many productive hours with tech-types, and lots of imagination by many, an idea first suggested by Hal Abelson and Eric Eldred will come to life on Monday, December 16: Creative Commons. Come see (though RSVP because we’re filling fast) and celebrate. ‘Tis the season to be giving, and this will be a great gift to the Commons. Continue reading →