Copyright's Commons

Abount Counter-Copyrights [CC]

As an alternative to the exclusivity of copyright, the counter-copyright invites others to use and build upon a creative work. By encouraging the widespread dissemination of such works, the counter-copyright campaign fosters a rich public domain.

The idea surrounding the counter-copyright campaign is fairly easy to understand. If you place the [cc] icon at the end of your work, you signal to others that you are allowing them to use, modify, edit, adapt and redistribute the work that you created.

The counter-copyright is not a replacement for an actual copyright, rather it is a signal that you as the creator are willing to share your work. The counter-copyright strips away the exclusivity that a copyright provides and allows others to use your work as a source or a foundation for their own creative ideas. The counter-copyright initiative is analogous to the idea of open source in the software context. For a more thorough explanation of open source see the following site: http://www.opensource.org/.

Show your support for the public domain by marking your work with a [cc] and a link to the Copyright's Commons web site.

Last modified April 21, 1999.