Copyright and Open Licensing meet 13

Copyright grants creators exclusive rights to their original works, such as books, music, art, and software. These rights include reproduction, distribution, public performance, display, and the creation of derivative works. Copyright protection automatically applies once a work is created and fixed in a tangible form. Typically, this protection lasts for the creator's lifetime plus an additional 70 years, though the exact duration can vary by jurisdiction.

The purpose of copyright is to incentivize the creation of new works by ensuring creators can control and potentially profit from their creations. However, copyright also imposes certain limitations on how others can use the protected works, with unauthorized use potentially resulting in legal consequences. This includes copying, distributing, or creating derivative works without permission.

Open licensing provides an alternative to traditional copyright by allowing creators to grant permissions to others to use, share, and sometimes modify their works under specified conditions. The most well-known system of open licensing is Creative Commons (CC), which offers a range of licenses that creators can choose from to define how their works can be used.

Creative Commons licenses come in several forms, each specifying different levels of permission:

- CC BY (Attribution): Allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work, even commercially, as long as they credit the original creator.

- CC BY-SA (Attribution-Share Alike): Permits others to remix, adapt, and build upon the work even for commercial purposes, as long as they credit the creator and license their new creations under the identical terms.

- CC BY-ND (Attribution-No Derivs): Allows for redistribution, commercial and non-commercial, as long as it is passed along unchanged and in whole, with credit to the creator.

- CC BY-NC (Attribution-Non Commercial): Lets others remix, adapt, and build upon the work non-commercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge the creator and be non-commercial, they don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

- CC BY-NC-SA (Attribution-Non Commercial-Share Alike): Permits others to remix, adapt, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as they credit the creator and license their new creations under the identical terms.

- CC BY-NC-ND (Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivs): Allows others to download the works and share them with others as long as they credit the creator, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially.

Open licensing offers numerous benefits:

- Increased Access and Distribution: Openly licensed works are more accessible to a broader audience, often leading to greater dissemination and use.

- Collaboration and Innovation: By allowing others to build upon existing works, open licensing encourages collaboration and innovation, leading to the creation of new knowledge and works.

- Educational Resources: Open licensing is particularly valuable in education, as it enables the sharing of high-quality educational materials without the cost barriers associated with traditional textbooks and resources.

However, there are considerations when using open licenses:

- Attribution: Most open licenses require that users credit the original creator, ensuring that the creator receives recognition for their work.

- Non-Commercial Use: Some licenses restrict the use of the work to non-commercial purposes, preventing others from profiting from the work.

- Share-Alike: Certain licenses require that any derivative works be licensed under the same terms as the original work, promoting the continued sharing and openness of derived works.

In summary, while copyright provides creators with exclusive rights to control and profit from their works, open licensing offers a flexible and accessible way to share works with a broader audience. Open licensing encourages collaboration, innovation, and the widespread dissemination of knowledge by making it easier for others to use, adapt, and build upon existing works.