[cc-community] Simplifying Licenses

drew Roberts zotz at 100jamz.com
Fri Mar 6 08:12:47 EST 2009


On Friday 06 March 2009 01:51:49 Jessica Coates wrote:
> I just want to put up my hand as agreeing completely with Gisle in this
> debate.
>
> The creative industries are very different from the software industry
> (which seems to be the main source of the 'NC is always bad' argument).
>
> The simple fact is, most people who want to let kids download their music
> don't want to let Coke put it in an ad. The NC clause is the most effective
> way of doing this.

This is not a great argument. First, most people who write software do not 
want to let people sell it and make money without giving them some too. 
Second, is it not possible to make a difference between commercial use and 
use in a commercial or advertisement? To allow for people to sell the work, 
to make a derivative and sell that, while not allowing use to promote a 
product or service etc?
>
> We'd love to have licences that cover every scenario, but it's just not
> practical.
>
> And for the time being it seems best to make sure we prevent abuse by large
> players, and rely on the ability to ask extra permission as a solution for
> any little guys who are unintentionally cut out.

Some of us don't particularly, but sure, keep it until it is clear it is not 
needed. But how about cc give more help and support to those trying to 
promote the Free end of the spectrum? It often seems that cc itself pushes NC 
more than the rest. If this is not the case, cc would do well by themselves 
to make sure that it is clearly not so.

I release my lyrics and other stuff BY-SA. I have the same concerns that I saw 
expressed recently about "undesirables" making undesirable uses of my works. 
When I release my code GPL, I have the same concerns.

We need a new understanding of Freedom in this world now that people are 
widely using Free licenses for various things. The fact that I make my works 
available under a Free license means that I approve of people having freedom 
to reuse my works. It does not mean that I will approve of every use they may 
make of my work given their freedom. I am confident that people will figure 
this out.

I want to help the little guy.s If this means I will suffer some abuse at the 
hands of the big guys, so be it. To me, putting NC on my stuff keeps the game 
on the court that the big guys know how to dominate and leaves them with all 
the advantages still. I'll take a risk and try a new game.
>
>
>
> Jessica Coates
> Project Manager
> Creative Commons Clinic
> Queensland University of Technology
>
> ph: 07 3138 8301
> fax: 07 3138 9395
> email: j2.coates at qut.edu.au

all the best,

drew



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