fyi. I just signed.
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: melanie dulong melanie.ddr@gmail.com Date: 2010/1/25 Subject: [A2k] launching the Public Domain Manifesto To: a2k@lists.essential.org
-- [ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ] The Public Domain Manifesto launches today, it can be read and signed at: http://www.publicdomainmanifesto.org
The Public Domain as a whole is the wealth of information that is free from the barriers to access or reuse usually associated with copyright protection, either because it is free from any copyright protection or because the right holders have decided to remove these barriers. The Public Domain ensures that the principles of Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ('Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.') can be fully enjoyed by everyone across the world.
In order to increase public awareness about such concepts and potentialities for spreading knowledge and culture, today COMMUNIA, the European Thematic Network on the Digital Public Domain, announces the launch of the Public Domain Manifesto (http://www.publicdomainmanifesto.org).
The document outlines a series of general principles (opening with: the Public Domain is the rule, copyright protection is the exception) along with various issues relevant to today's Public Domain, and provides some recommendations aimed at protecting the Public Domain and ensuring that it can continue to function in a meaningful way-with particular relevance to education, cultural heritage and scientific research.
The Public Domain Manifesto reinforces the recent Public Domain Day (1. January 2010) initiatives and is already available in several languages with more translations underway, also featuring dozens of initial signers-both individuals and organizations worldwide. Everyone is encouraged to sign it, to follow our Facebook page andŠ to spread the word!
For more information: - Public Domain Manifesto website: http://www.publicdomainmanifesto.org - Public Domain Manifesto Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/The-Public-Domain-Manifesto/4483718... - Public Domain Day website: http://www.publicdomainday.org
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About the Public Domain In the strict copyright law realm, "Public Domain" refers to those works which are no longer or have never been protected by copyright. But in today's digital networked Information Society, the definition of Public Domain essentially covers any cultural material that can be used without restriction, absent copyright protection - broadening its range to include close relations with open access, open licensing, fair use, and orphan works.
About COMMUNIA The COMMUNIA Thematic Network focuses on theoretical analysis and strategic policy discussion of existing and emerging issues concerning the public domain in the digital environment. Its activities cover several related topics, including, but not limited to, alternative forms of licensing for creative material; open access to scientific publications and research results; management of works whose authors are unknown (i.e. "orphan works"). Funded by the European Commission within the eContentplus framework, the 2007-2010 project expects to provide policy guidelines that will help each stakeholder involved - public and private, from the local to the European and global level. The network includes 51 members and is coordinated by Politecnico of Torino's NEXA Research Center for Internet and Society. More info: http://communia-project.eu/
Contacts: COMMUNIA Media Office: press@communia-project.eu _______________________________________________ A2k mailing list A2k@lists.essential.org http://lists.essential.org/mailman/listinfo/a2k