Creative Commons

CC will be speaking at the Museum Association 's Open Minds conference about copyright and open heritage in museums! Through a mix of panel discussions, case studies, and audience participation, the event will explore the latest approaches to and trends in collections copyright, the impact of technological developments and AI on copyright, income streams relating to copyright, and more. Register for the online event at: https://buff.ly/rmDVXLb Image: "Inside The British Museum" by Henry Burrows licensed by CC BY-SA 2.0.

Thank you to the Siegel Family Endowment for supporting our work to shape an open and accessible future!

We’re in the final hours of #GivingTuesday, and we are less than 5% of the way toward our ambitious $100,000 goal for the end of this year. Can you help? As AI systems scrape the web, some are choosing to stop sharing their content due to fear of misuse and a lack of reciprocity. If people don’t trust how their content is being used, they may stop sharing altogether. That’s a real loss for the commons — and for everyone who depends on it. That’s why we’re developing solutions, like CC signals, to restore balance between AI platforms and dataset holders. Will you stand with us and make a gift to Creative Commons? Every dollar raised goes to support our fight for a thriving, equitable global commons. https://buff.ly/hyc4JwX Image: Marie-Amélie, Queen of the French by Baron François Joseph Bosio, 1841, CC0. Remixed by Creative Commons/Annemarie Eayrs, 2025, CC0.

We’ve all tried to access information, only to hit a paywall and be shut out. Now imagine that happening everywhere on the web. When AI companies extract from the commons without giving back, they exploit the people who sustain it and push the commons towards becoming more closed off. Collective knowledge is being converted into hoarded wealth and concentrated power, instead of shared public value. We’re building a solution to protect the commons and create checks and balances on AI so that everyone has access to knowledge. We can’t do this without your support. Give a gift to help bring us closer to our goal and support this ambitious project. https://buff.ly/NsRtgAs Work used: Irises by Vincent van Gogh, 1890, CC0. Remixed by Creative Commons/Annemarie Eayrs, 2025, CC0.

In response to large AI models accessing vast amounts of digital content without permission, attribution or compensation, pay-to-crawl systems have emerged as a possible way to help sustain the creation and publication of content online. However, overbroad and indiscriminate use of pay-to-crawl systems could ultimately represent a shift away from the spirit of the open web towards a more tightly controlled and monetised content ecosystem. Read our full issue brief for more on how pay-to-crawl systems work and considerations on the long-term effects of these models on openness on the web. ❓What do you think about pay-to-crawl? Let us know in the comments. 

A free online meeting on the work that openRxiv and the Continuous Science Foundation have been doing to create modular and interactive scientific publishing. The event features CC's Director of Open Science, Monica Granados!

Next week is #GivingTuesday and we need your help to raise $100,000 before the end of this year! A lot has changed since we first introduced CC licenses 25 years ago. New technologies are transforming how we create, distribute, access, and interpret knowledge. They are also changing how information is controlled on the internet. AI systems are built on the commons and trained on centuries of human thought and culture. What started as a promise of better technology and even more access to knowledge is putting all that we’ve built at risk. We can’t let that happen. That’s why we need your support. #GivingTuesday is a week away. Show your support with a donation, and share on social media why YOU support Creative Commons! https://buff.ly/NsRtgAs Works used: Marie-Amélie, Queen of the French by Baron François Joseph Bosio, 1841, CC0. Irises by Vincent van Gogh, 1890, CC0. Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat by Vincent van Gogh, 1887, CC0. View on the Seine: Harp of the Winds by Homer Dodge Martin, 1893, CC0. Pierre de Wiessant by Auguste Rodin, 1885, Founder Cast by Alexis Rudier, 1900, CC0. Remixed by Creative Commons/Annemarie Eayrs, 2025, CC0.

How would equitable access to heritage change life for future generations in your region? Patricia Diaz Rubio, the Executive Director of Wikimedia Chile explains the lasting effects of open heritage. "In short, it's about giving the next generation the ability to see, study, and re-use our own heritage as something that belongs to us, not hidden behind barriers or licenses, but open to everyone, everywhere." ✍️ Sign the Statement: https://buff.ly/uaXFxKN

Completing the CC Certificate course not only deepens your understanding of open licensing, it also empowers you with the skillset needed to help others obtain this knowledge. A group of alumni from the CC Certificate for Educators program used their learnings to design a community-based training initiative for Indonesian educators, introducing the principles of openness, the use of CC licenses, and the ethical practices in sharing and creating digital content. Called “Open Horizons: Creative Commons for Indonesia’s Educators”, the training program was held between April and May 2025 with a total of 129 participants from five locations and resulted in an average success rate of 81%. Learn more about the program’s outcomes and key takeaways for both participants and facilitators: https://buff.ly/CNbUboj. Make a difference in your community! Sign up for a CC Certificate course here: https://buff.ly/7Suw7Bj

Creative Commons is thrilled to support an inspiring regional event hosted by CC Uruguay — a celebration of free culture, creativity, and collaboration! Next week in Montevideo, the festival will feature panels, discussions, hands-on workshops, and live concerts. If you’re nearby, don’t miss it! If not, follow along for updates and highlights from this special gathering. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dV3XgCUG