WikiEducatorWikiEducator

Free e-learning contentFree e-learning content

Presentation byPresentation by

Linda Smith TabbLinda Smith Tabb

What is free content?What is free content?• When thinking about the When thinking about the

freefree in free content, many in free content, many people associate it with people associate it with content without cost. content without cost. However, the alternative However, the alternative meaning of free refers to meaning of free refers to personal liberty -- the personal liberty -- the ability to act without ability to act without restriction. restriction.

• For WikiEducators - For WikiEducators - freefree refers to the liberty to refers to the liberty to adapt, modify and use adapt, modify and use content without content without restriction. restriction.

Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of dogwelderdogwelder

Gratis vs. LibreGratis vs. Libre• Gratis = No priceGratis = No price• Libre = freedomLibre = freedom

According to Richard According to Richard Stallman:Stallman:

““Free softwareFree software is a matter is a matter of liberty, not price. To of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, understand the concept, you should think of you should think of freefree as in as in free speechfree speech, not as , not as in in free beer”.free beer”.

Photo courtesy of H. Photo courtesy of H. MoltkeMoltke

The essential freedomsThe essential freedoms• Freedom to useFreedom to use, that is the freedom to run the , that is the freedom to run the

program, for any purpose (freedom 0). program, for any purpose (freedom 0). • Help yourselfHelp yourself which is the freedom to study which is the freedom to study

how the program works, and adapt it to your how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. a precondition for this.

• Help your neighbourHelp your neighbour that is, the freedom to that is, the freedom to redistribute copies without restriction (freedom redistribute copies without restriction (freedom 2). 2).

• Help your communityHelp your community referring to the freedom referring to the freedom to improve the program, and release your to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. source code is a precondition for this.

CopyleftCopyleft• Copyleft is a copyright Copyleft is a copyright

hackhack• Copyleft turns copyright Copyleft turns copyright

upside down and uses upside down and uses copyright law to protect copyright law to protect and ensure the essential and ensure the essential freedoms associated freedoms associated with free software and with free software and free works. free works.

• Copyleft turns copyright Copyleft turns copyright upside down and uses upside down and uses copyright law to protect copyright law to protect and ensure the essential and ensure the essential freedoms associated freedoms associated with free software and with free software and free works. free works.

Education and sharing of Education and sharing of knowledgeknowledge

• Fortunately, when we share Fortunately, when we share knowledge, we can still use it knowledge, we can still use it for our own benefit and use. for our own benefit and use.

• Knowledge grows with reuse. Knowledge grows with reuse. Therefore, it is considered Therefore, it is considered sustainable and scalable. sustainable and scalable.

• Much of the world's Much of the world's knowledge is locked behind knowledge is locked behind restrictive copyright restrictive copyright provisions - and much of this provisions - and much of this knowledge is inaccessible knowledge is inaccessible and unaffordable, and unaffordable, particularly for the majority particularly for the majority of citizens in the developing of citizens in the developing world. world.

Dorfschule / Village school, Dorfschule / Village school, 17th century from 17th century from Kunstsammlung der Kunstsammlung der Universität Göttingen Universität Göttingen

Defining free cultural Defining free cultural worksworks

• The definition of Free The definition of Free Cultural Works is based on Cultural Works is based on the premise that the easier the premise that the easier it is to re-use and derive it is to re-use and derive works, the richer our works, the richer our cultures become. cultures become.

• There is growing There is growing international interest in international interest in the concept of the concept of "Open "Open Educational Resources"Educational Resources" (OERs) which was first (OERs) which was first adopted at UNESCO's adopted at UNESCO's 2002 Forum on the Impact 2002 Forum on the Impact of Open Courseware for of Open Courseware for Higher Education in Higher Education in Developing Countries. Developing Countries.

Requirements of free Requirements of free contentcontent

• Meet all the requirements Meet all the requirements specified below, that is the specified below, that is the essential freedoms, essential freedoms, permissible restrictions and permissible restrictions and additional technical additional technical requirements; and requirements; and

• It must carry a free content It must carry a free content license, which is a legal license, which is a legal instrument whereby the instrument whereby the legal owner of the resource legal owner of the resource grants specific freedoms in grants specific freedoms in accordance with the accordance with the requirements of the free requirements of the free content definition below. content definition below. We will cover selected We will cover selected examples of acceptable free examples of acceptable free content licenses in the next content licenses in the next subsection of the tutorial. subsection of the tutorial.

Village school in SudanVillage school in Sudan

Permissible restrictionsPermissible restrictions• Attribution of authorsAttribution of authors: Attribution protects the integrity of an : Attribution protects the integrity of an

original work, and provides credit and recognition for authors. A original work, and provides credit and recognition for authors. A license may therefore require attribution of the author or authors, license may therefore require attribution of the author or authors, provided such attribution does not impede normal use of the provided such attribution does not impede normal use of the work. For example, it would not be acceptable for the license to work. For example, it would not be acceptable for the license to require a significantly more cumbersome method of attribution require a significantly more cumbersome method of attribution when a modified version of the licensed text is distributed. when a modified version of the licensed text is distributed.

• Transmission of freedomsTransmission of freedoms: The license may include a clause, : The license may include a clause, often called often called copyleftcopyleft or or share-alikeshare-alike, which ensures that derivative , which ensures that derivative works themselves remain free works. To this effect, it can for works themselves remain free works. To this effect, it can for example require that all derivative works are made available example require that all derivative works are made available under the same free license as the original. under the same free license as the original.

• Protection of freedomsProtection of freedoms: The license may include clauses that : The license may include clauses that strive to further ensure that the work is a free work, notably by strive to further ensure that the work is a free work, notably by enforcing some of the conditions specified in the paragraphs enforcing some of the conditions specified in the paragraphs below: for example, access to below: for example, access to source codesource code, or prohibition of , or prohibition of technical measurestechnical measures restricting essential freedoms. restricting essential freedoms.

Additional conditionsAdditional conditions• Availability of source data:Availability of source data: Where a final work has been obtained Where a final work has been obtained

through the compilation or processing of a source file or multiple source through the compilation or processing of a source file or multiple source files, all underlying source data should be available alongside the work files, all underlying source data should be available alongside the work itself under the same conditions. This can be the score of a musical itself under the same conditions. This can be the score of a musical composition, the models used in a 3D scene, the data of a scientific composition, the models used in a 3D scene, the data of a scientific publication, the source code of a computer application, or any other publication, the source code of a computer application, or any other such information. such information.

• Use of a free format:Use of a free format: For digital files, the format in which the work is For digital files, the format in which the work is made available should not be protected by patents, unless a world-wide, made available should not be protected by patents, unless a world-wide, unlimited and irrevocable royalty-free grant is given to make use of the unlimited and irrevocable royalty-free grant is given to make use of the patented technology. While non-free formats may sometimes be used for patented technology. While non-free formats may sometimes be used for practical reasons, a free format copy practical reasons, a free format copy mustmust be available for the work to be available for the work to be considered free. be considered free.

• No technical restrictions:No technical restrictions: The work must be available in a form where The work must be available in a form where no technical measures are used to limit the freedoms enumerated no technical measures are used to limit the freedoms enumerated above. above.

• No other restrictions or limitations:No other restrictions or limitations: The work itself must not be The work itself must not be covered by legal restrictions (patents, contracts, etc.) or limitations covered by legal restrictions (patents, contracts, etc.) or limitations (such as privacy rights) which would impede the freedoms enumerated (such as privacy rights) which would impede the freedoms enumerated above. A work may make use of existing legal exemptions to copyright above. A work may make use of existing legal exemptions to copyright (in order to cite copyrighted works), though only the portions of it which (in order to cite copyrighted works), though only the portions of it which are unambiguously free constitute a free work. are unambiguously free constitute a free work.

LicensesLicenses

• This is a complex topic because property This is a complex topic because property rights of creative works are typically rights of creative works are typically regulated by national laws. So for example: regulated by national laws. So for example:

• A work that would be in the public domain A work that would be in the public domain in one country would not necessarily be in in one country would not necessarily be in the public domain in another country; also the public domain in another country; also

• Works that were created before the Works that were created before the existence of national copyright law would existence of national copyright law would be in the public domain, for example the be in the public domain, for example the Bible. Bible.

GNU Free documentation GNU Free documentation licenselicense

• GNU Free DocumentatiGNU Free Documentation Licenseon License was originally was originally developed by the developed by the GNU Free SoftwareGNU Free Software project as a license for project as a license for documentation documentation accompanying free accompanying free software programs. The software programs. The FDL is a copyleft FDL is a copyleft license, as described in license, as described in the previous subsection the previous subsection because it contains a because it contains a share-alike provision. share-alike provision.

Creative CommonsCreative Commons

• The The Creative CommonsCreative Commons is a charitable US- is a charitable US-based corporation that has developed a range based corporation that has developed a range of licensing options between two sides of a of licensing options between two sides of a continuum. continuum.

• On the one side, total control associated with On the one side, total control associated with all "rights reserved" and, on the other, total all "rights reserved" and, on the other, total freedom. freedom.

• Choosing a license Choosing a license does notdoes not mean that you mean that you give away copyright, it refers to the rights you give away copyright, it refers to the rights you may give members of the public and the may give members of the public and the conditions of use of your creative works. conditions of use of your creative works.

CC license benefitsCC license benefits

• A A Commons DeedCommons Deed. A simple, plain-language . A simple, plain-language summary of the license (intended for summary of the license (intended for humans), complete with the relevant icons. humans), complete with the relevant icons.

• The The Legal CodeLegal Code. This is the fine print that . This is the fine print that you need to be sure the license will stand up you need to be sure the license will stand up in court (intended for legal professionals). in court (intended for legal professionals).

• The The Digital CodeDigital Code. A machine-readable . A machine-readable translation of the license that helps search translation of the license that helps search engines and other applications identify your engines and other applications identify your work by its terms of use. For example, this work by its terms of use. For example, this can be embedded in the markup of a web can be embedded in the markup of a web page. page.

License optionsLicense options• AttributionAttribution: Required for : Required for

all CC licenses - this is not all CC licenses - this is not an option. By attribution an option. By attribution you let others copy, you let others copy, distribute, display, and distribute, display, and perform your copyrighted perform your copyrighted work — and derivative work — and derivative works based upon it — but works based upon it — but only if they give credit the only if they give credit the way you request. way you request.

• No derivative worksNo derivative works: You : You let others copy, distribute, let others copy, distribute, display, and perform only display, and perform only verbatim copies of your verbatim copies of your work, not derivative works work, not derivative works based upon it based upon it

More license optionsMore license options• Non-commercialNon-commercial: You let : You let

others copy, distribute, others copy, distribute, display, and perform your display, and perform your work — and derivative works work — and derivative works based upon it — but for non-based upon it — but for non-commercial purposes only commercial purposes only

• Share-alikeShare-alike: You allow : You allow others to distribute others to distribute derivative works only under derivative works only under a license identical to the a license identical to the license that governs your license that governs your work. work.

*Note that the logos here *Note that the logos here and on previous slide are and on previous slide are official trademarks of the official trademarks of the Creative CommonsCreative Commons and are and are used here for illustrative used here for illustrative purposes. purposes.

Freedom paradoxFreedom paradox

• To avoid any ambiguity, a Creative Commons To avoid any ambiguity, a Creative Commons license that contains any of the following license that contains any of the following restrictions restrictions doesn'tdoesn't meet the requirements of meet the requirements of the free content definition: the free content definition:

• No derivative works No derivative works • Non commercial Non commercial • Stated differently, the two Creative Commons Stated differently, the two Creative Commons

licenses that meet the requirements of the licenses that meet the requirements of the free content definition are: free content definition are:

• Attribution (CC-BY) Attribution (CC-BY) • Attribution share-alike (CC-BY-SA) Attribution share-alike (CC-BY-SA)

Challenge of open Challenge of open formatsformats

• The source data must be availableThe source data must be available• Files should be saved in a free formatFiles should be saved in a free format• Uploading of pdf filesUploading of pdf files. Fortunately the Portable . Fortunately the Portable

Document Format (pdf), while being a proprietary Document Format (pdf), while being a proprietary format is an openly documented format. As a openly format is an openly documented format. As a openly documented format, the free software community has documented format, the free software community has been able to develop free pdf readers and application been able to develop free pdf readers and application software that can generate pdf files, for example Open software that can generate pdf files, for example Open Office. Unfortunately, pdf files are compiled and are Office. Unfortunately, pdf files are compiled and are therefore difficult to edit and modify. When uploading a therefore difficult to edit and modify. When uploading a pdf document, we recommend that you also upload the pdf document, we recommend that you also upload the source file in an open format, for example as an Open source file in an open format, for example as an Open Office file Office file

• Document formatsDocument formats. Similarly, when uploading . Similarly, when uploading documents these should ideally be saved in an open documents these should ideally be saved in an open document format. The Microsoft Word format (.doc) is a document format. The Microsoft Word format (.doc) is a closed document standard. closed document standard.

SummarySummary• Content on Wikieducator uses a Creative Commons, Content on Wikieducator uses a Creative Commons,

Attribution Share-alike license which is a Copyleft Attribution Share-alike license which is a Copyleft license designed to ensure the future freedom of license designed to ensure the future freedom of content on this Wiki. Creative Commons content that content on this Wiki. Creative Commons content that does not permit derivative works or includes the non-does not permit derivative works or includes the non-commercial restriction is non-free content, and not commercial restriction is non-free content, and not compatible with the license of WikiEducator. compatible with the license of WikiEducator.

• The convergence of software and digital content The convergence of software and digital content formats has resulted in unique opportunities to formats has resulted in unique opportunities to develop content collaboratively, however this develop content collaboratively, however this introduces the requirement to make source data introduces the requirement to make source data available and the use of free file formats. available and the use of free file formats.

• Powerpoint content is adapted from the WikiEducator Powerpoint content is adapted from the WikiEducator Tutorial Tutorial http://www.wikieducator.org/Wikieducator_tutorial/Whttp://www.wikieducator.org/Wikieducator_tutorial/What_is_free_contenthat_is_free_content