Social Advances and Challenges of the World Wide Web pg9

Social Advances and Challenges of the World Wide Web

• Discussion of societal benefits resulting from the Internet.

• Examination of challenges like spam and phishing in social contexts.

Introduction to Creative Commons

• Focus on the improvement brought about by Creative Commons (CC).

• CC as an alternative to traditional copyright laws.

Copyright Laws Overview

• Dominant legal stance: "All rights reserved” to the author under copyright laws prevalent in most countries.

  • Note: Copyright laws are subject to change, often becoming more restrictive, notably in the United States.

• The implications of copyright:

  • To use someone’s web-published work, others typically need to contact the creator for permission.

  • This can serve as a barrier to sharing and limit the inspiration derived from others' creations.

Creative Commons License Goals

• Objectives of Creative Commons (CC):

  • Increase the sharing of intellectual property.

  • Inspire greater creativity within the community.

Functionality of Creative Commons Licenses

• CC licenses facilitate easy sharing of works:

  • When a creator applies a CC license to their work, it can be copied and distributed by others.

  • The specific guidelines for using the work are clearly defined, eliminating the necessity of directly contacting the creator.

  • This emphasis on wide availability often means fewer usage limitations.

Distinction Between Creative Commons and Public Domain

• Creative Commons licenses versus public domain:

  • Public domain means no rights reserved (described by the CC0 public domain mark), relinquishing all rights to the work.

  • CC licenses represent a middle ground where the creator retains some rights while giving away others.

Options for Creative Commons Licenses

• A copyright owner, including potential authors, can select from several CC license options:

  • ATTRIBUTION (BY): Allows others to copy, distribute, remix, and modify the work, given credit to the creator is maintained.

  • NON-COMMERCIAL (NC): Permits others to copy and modify the work, provided the new version is not intended for sale.

  • NO DERIVATIVE WORKS (ND): Allows copying and distribution of the original work as is, but prohibits creation of derivative works.

  • SHARE ALIKE (SA): Grants permission to distribute derivative works only under a license identical to that of the original work.

• Example of a standard CC license noted as CC BY-NC-SA.

Application and Impact of Creative Commons

• CC in practical situations:

  • Example question raised: Can an image under the CC BY-NC-SA license be mashed up to create a derivative work for a book if proper attribution is provided?

• Creative Commons licenses effectiveness:

  • Recognized as significantly enhancing information accessibility online.

Summary Checklist of Creative Commons Concepts

• Creators and Copyright: Creators retain copyright unless opting for CC0 to enter the public domain.

• Core Capabilities: CC licenses allow for copying, distributing, and performing created works.

• Attribution Requirement: Most CC licenses require giving credit to the creator.

• Rights Waiving: Creators can choose to waive specific rights they retain.

• Accessibility Tools: Creative Commons offers tools for creators to correctly tag their works with appropriate license links.