Copyright law was created over 300 years ago to grant creators exclusive rights over their works for a limited time. Over time, the length of copyright protections has been repeatedly extended, with works now typically covered for the life of the author plus 70 years. This lengthening of copyright terms has implications for global missions and access to discipleship resources that are rarely discussed. Specifically, many older works have little commercial value but high ministry potential, especially if translated, yet remain unavailable due to copyright restrictions that can last over a century.
The document discusses the intersection of copyright law and world missions. It provides an overview of copyright, including that creative works are automatically copyrighted upon creation. It explores the ethics of copyright and how copyright was not a concern for early missionaries. The implications of copyright law for distributing religious materials globally are also examined, as is the potential benefit of an open library of Christian resources for all language groups.
Copyright is the exclusive legal right given to creators to control their original works. It applies to various forms of media including books, music, art, films and more. While facts and ideas cannot be copyrighted, specific expressions of ideas can. Copyright allows creators to profit from their works and defend their integrity. However, fair use and private use exceptions exist. Piracy, like file sharing without permission, violates copyright and hurts creators. The Pirate Bay facilitates illegal downloading but argues it is resilient against attempts to shut it down.
Copyright and fair use are important concepts for sharing creative works. Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted works without permission for purposes like education, commentary, or research. There are four factors considered for fair use: the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount used, and the economic impact. Creative Commons licenses provide a standardized way for creators to modify copyright terms and allow certain uses of their works with conditions like attribution, non-commercial use, and share-alike clauses.
Imagining a Smithsonian Commons (text version)Michael Edson
Text of talk about the vision of a Smithsonian Commons. Given at the Gilbane Conference, Boston, 12/3/2008, and the Museum Computer Network in D.C., 11-13-2008. See accompanying PowerPoint presentation for the visuals. Note that this is not an official policy document, but is the author's thoughts about what *might* be in the Smithsonian's future.
This content is in the public domain (I'm a federal employee) but SlideShare doesn't let me tag it that way.
Update 7/8/2010: We've created a prototype of the Smithsonian Commons, http://www.si.edu/commons/prototype
Text version of keynote for 2009 Visual Resources Association, "Imaging a Smithsonian Commons." See also PowerPoint version. NOTE: this content is in the public domain (I'm a federal employee) but SlideShare doesn't let me tag it that way.
"Imagining a Smithsonian Commons" CIL 2009 Michael Edson (text version)Michael Edson
Text version of keynote presentation to 2009 Computers in Libraries conference. 4/1/09. See also supporting PowerPoint slides. This text is in the Public Domain. Video of me giving this presentation is at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1327813
Creative Commons provides free copyright licenses to enable legal sharing and reuse of creative works. Their mission is to build a more equitable and innovative world by unlocking the full potential of the internet. They offer six main licenses that allow others to distribute, remix, tweak or build upon a work as long as they provide attribution to the original creator. These licenses provide flexible options for creators to choose how others can use their work, either commercially or non-commercially, with or without changes allowed. Creative Commons aims to accomplish great things through a shared creative wealth.
The document discusses the intersection of copyright law and world missions. It provides an overview of copyright, including that creative works are automatically copyrighted upon creation. It explores the ethics of copyright and how copyright was not a concern for early missionaries. The implications of copyright law for distributing religious materials globally are also examined, as is the potential benefit of an open library of Christian resources for all language groups.
Copyright is the exclusive legal right given to creators to control their original works. It applies to various forms of media including books, music, art, films and more. While facts and ideas cannot be copyrighted, specific expressions of ideas can. Copyright allows creators to profit from their works and defend their integrity. However, fair use and private use exceptions exist. Piracy, like file sharing without permission, violates copyright and hurts creators. The Pirate Bay facilitates illegal downloading but argues it is resilient against attempts to shut it down.
Copyright and fair use are important concepts for sharing creative works. Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted works without permission for purposes like education, commentary, or research. There are four factors considered for fair use: the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount used, and the economic impact. Creative Commons licenses provide a standardized way for creators to modify copyright terms and allow certain uses of their works with conditions like attribution, non-commercial use, and share-alike clauses.
Imagining a Smithsonian Commons (text version)Michael Edson
Text of talk about the vision of a Smithsonian Commons. Given at the Gilbane Conference, Boston, 12/3/2008, and the Museum Computer Network in D.C., 11-13-2008. See accompanying PowerPoint presentation for the visuals. Note that this is not an official policy document, but is the author's thoughts about what *might* be in the Smithsonian's future.
This content is in the public domain (I'm a federal employee) but SlideShare doesn't let me tag it that way.
Update 7/8/2010: We've created a prototype of the Smithsonian Commons, http://www.si.edu/commons/prototype
Text version of keynote for 2009 Visual Resources Association, "Imaging a Smithsonian Commons." See also PowerPoint version. NOTE: this content is in the public domain (I'm a federal employee) but SlideShare doesn't let me tag it that way.
"Imagining a Smithsonian Commons" CIL 2009 Michael Edson (text version)Michael Edson
Text version of keynote presentation to 2009 Computers in Libraries conference. 4/1/09. See also supporting PowerPoint slides. This text is in the Public Domain. Video of me giving this presentation is at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1327813
Creative Commons provides free copyright licenses to enable legal sharing and reuse of creative works. Their mission is to build a more equitable and innovative world by unlocking the full potential of the internet. They offer six main licenses that allow others to distribute, remix, tweak or build upon a work as long as they provide attribution to the original creator. These licenses provide flexible options for creators to choose how others can use their work, either commercially or non-commercially, with or without changes allowed. Creative Commons aims to accomplish great things through a shared creative wealth.
Creative Commons provides free copyright licenses to enable legal sharing and reuse of creative works. Their mission is to build a more equitable and innovative world by unlocking the full potential of the internet. They offer six main licenses that allow others to distribute, remix, tweak or build upon a work as long as they provide attribution to the original creator. These licenses provide flexible options for creators to choose how others can use their work, either commercially or non-commercially, with or without modifications. Creative Commons aims to accomplish great things through a shared creative wealth.
The document discusses the history and evolution of open source software from its origins in computer science academia to the present. It describes how Richard Stallman developed the GNU operating system and generalized public license (GPL) to create a legal framework ensuring software remains freely accessible and modifiable. While open source models aim to grant universal access, the document notes they still face challenges around equitable participation, as seen in the small percentage of female Wikipedia editors. Overall, it examines the positive and negative societal impacts of shifting towards more open information systems and knowledge-sharing frameworks.
From bit-streams-to-life-streams-ajai-narendran-srishti-bangalore-stff-2011ajai
The document discusses emerging paradigms in web-based computing and argues that the next generation of social computing and internet architecture will come from artists, social scientists, and media practitioners rather than just technologists. It explores the ideas of David Gelernter and references videos about Claude Shannon, the Library of Alexandria, and the semantic web. It also discusses the evolution of the web and limitations of current search algorithms and results that can be manipulated.
This document summarizes a talk on video game law given by Jon Festinger Q.C. at UBC Law. The talk discussed how creativity arises from both individual genius and connection/collaboration with others. It also noted several legal issues raised by this, such as how copyright law treats derivative works, and questions around personal rights over modifications and remixes of video games. The talk concluded by examining how contract law through EULAs and TOUs has largely replaced intellectual property law in governing digital spaces and transactions.
As our lives are increasingly migrating to cyberspace, which some call the Internet, so do our concerns.Injustices and discomforts in cyberspace are as pressing as the more"traditional" ones. Improving our lives increasingly means improving our living conditions in cyberspace. Just a few years ago, the chronically-online may have been perceived as asocial shut-ins. Today, those who are not online are the odd ones. The average person is said to spend most of their waking hours on a digital device.Many, if not most, agree a nearly total dominion over cyberspace by a few corporations is a big source of cyberspace injustice. But few agree on what should be done. Some want more government regulation. Some want less. But few can actually formulate what such corporations could be replaced with. Crypto, in the most general sense, has been at the forefront of8Family. Our future in cyberspace.creating hope for a better cyberspace. Bitcoin has done incredible things in digital finance. Many believe crypto can do the same for the rest of cyberspace and produce viable replacements for the tyrannical platforms we all use. But very little of that has materialized.This book will explain what went wrong, and lay out a concrete plan of action. We will make important technical contributions, but the biggest contribution of this book shall be to our collective understanding.
This document discusses several topics related to technology and society from session 9. It begins with an index of upcoming session topics such as the internet, web 2.0, social media, new economies, free culture, and communication in the network society. Session 9 focuses on free culture and Google. There is a debate about the concept of "free culture" and how copyright laws have changed over time. The session then discusses Google by providing facts and figures about the company in an infographic, and analyzing whether Google truly organizes information or fragments it. The document examines Google's terms of service and business model, and considers if regulations for telecommunications could apply to Google. It also discusses some potential unintended consequences of new technologies.
Creative commons, an alternative solution to copyright restrictionsalbamunyoz
This report provides an analysis and exhaustive explanation of Copyright restrictions in order to encourage creators to choose Creative Commons licenses. The purpose is not only to give a clear understanding of why authors should chose Creative Commons licenses, but also to raise awareness of the harmful consequences of Copyright for the whole society or the public domain.
Creative commons, an alternative solution to copyright restrictionsalbamunyoz
This report provides an analysis and exhaustive explanation of Copyright restrictions in order to encourage creators to choose Creative Commons licenses. The purpose is not only to give a clear understanding of why authors should chose Creative Commons licenses, but also to raise awareness of the harmful consequences of Copyright for the whole society or the public domain.
This document discusses copyright and ethics in the digital age. It notes that technologies have changed how we interact with and produce cultural works. Where the 20th century model focused on consumers, the digital age allows everyone to be both consumers and producers. However, this has led to tensions between a culture of freely shared ideas versus intellectual property. The document also provides an overview of copyright law and discusses how digital technologies have enabled a "read-write-rip-burn culture" that the legal system has not fully addressed yet.
Viral Spiral: How the Commoners Built a Digital Republic of Their Ownaspeninstitute
The document discusses the concept of the commons sector for creativity and culture. It describes how copyright laws have expanded private ownership over public works, but that open content licenses and platforms are allowing for new forms of collaborative creation and sharing. It envisions the commons becoming a new social and economic force through open models in areas like education, science, business and citizenship.
This document is a report from The Public Domain Expert that provides links to over 200 websites containing public domain content such as books, art, photos, audio/video, and government documents. The report introduces public domain material as a treasure trove of content that can be freely used without copyright restrictions. It aims to reveal secret websites containing public domain gems that other experts have not disclosed.
Legal peace of mind kit for thought leadersJennie Vickers
The document discusses Creative Commons (CC) licensing and the confusion it can cause regarding copyright. CC licensing aims to allow authors to selectively give up certain copyright rights to enable sharing of ideas, but there is confusion over which rights are being given up. A case example is provided of unintended commercial use of a photo licensed under CC that led to a court case. For those wanting to embrace CC licensing, understanding which rights are being licensed and the practical implications is important to avoid potential legal issues.
The document summarizes key points from several authors on the topic of copyright reform. It discusses how copyright law must be updated to allow for amateur creativity, simplify rules, and decriminalize certain uses of copyrighted works. While copyright protects creators, the current system also restricts expression and access to culture. Reform is needed to balance copyright with the public's interest in a rich cultural commons.
Libraries are facing major changes due to new technologies like Google and digitization. While digitization reduces storage and access costs, copyright laws may restrict the sharing of digitized materials. The HathiTrust digital library holds over 10 million volumes but only a small portion are in the public domain. To thrive, libraries will need to revise rights policies to take advantage of technology, redefine their missions around sharing and collaboration, and preserve both digital and physical materials.
Open Source Solutions Swansea April 2009Mark Hughes
The document discusses the rise of open source solutions and their impact. It notes that open source is enabling more collaboration and participation as barriers to contributing come down. Open source library systems are increasingly available and some libraries are migrating to them from closed source solutions. Established library system vendors are both using open source components internally and releasing some open source products in response to competition.
10 Reasons why you should not install Linux. EverLana Brindley
The document lists 10 purported reasons for not installing Linux, followed by rebuttals for each point:
1. The interface is claimed to be ugly, but support is available through online forums and communities.
2. Lack of support is denied, as extensive online help exists.
3. Claims of obsolescence are rejected, and free software is said to enable democratic innovation outside traditional markets.
4. Difficulty is dismissed, noting documentation, intuitiveness, and user communities to assist newcomers.
Once installed, Linux can be removed if desired. Overall the rebuttals encourage giving Linux an open-minded try.
Music Like Water: Gerd Leonhard at A2N 2009 BerlinGerd Leonhard
All-together-now (A2N) was a great place to talk about the Future of the Music Industry. Finally, here's a place to discuss real innovation in the music industry. A summary:
* Legalize it: a public, collective, open License for the use of Music online
* Collaborative efforts to develop new, web-native revenue streams
* A new social contract for Content
The Enchantment and Shadows_ Unveiling the Mysteries of Magic and Black Magic...Phoenix O
This manual will guide you through basic skills and tasks to help you get started with various aspects of Magic. Each section is designed to be easy to follow, with step-by-step instructions.
Creative Commons provides free copyright licenses to enable legal sharing and reuse of creative works. Their mission is to build a more equitable and innovative world by unlocking the full potential of the internet. They offer six main licenses that allow others to distribute, remix, tweak or build upon a work as long as they provide attribution to the original creator. These licenses provide flexible options for creators to choose how others can use their work, either commercially or non-commercially, with or without modifications. Creative Commons aims to accomplish great things through a shared creative wealth.
The document discusses the history and evolution of open source software from its origins in computer science academia to the present. It describes how Richard Stallman developed the GNU operating system and generalized public license (GPL) to create a legal framework ensuring software remains freely accessible and modifiable. While open source models aim to grant universal access, the document notes they still face challenges around equitable participation, as seen in the small percentage of female Wikipedia editors. Overall, it examines the positive and negative societal impacts of shifting towards more open information systems and knowledge-sharing frameworks.
From bit-streams-to-life-streams-ajai-narendran-srishti-bangalore-stff-2011ajai
The document discusses emerging paradigms in web-based computing and argues that the next generation of social computing and internet architecture will come from artists, social scientists, and media practitioners rather than just technologists. It explores the ideas of David Gelernter and references videos about Claude Shannon, the Library of Alexandria, and the semantic web. It also discusses the evolution of the web and limitations of current search algorithms and results that can be manipulated.
This document summarizes a talk on video game law given by Jon Festinger Q.C. at UBC Law. The talk discussed how creativity arises from both individual genius and connection/collaboration with others. It also noted several legal issues raised by this, such as how copyright law treats derivative works, and questions around personal rights over modifications and remixes of video games. The talk concluded by examining how contract law through EULAs and TOUs has largely replaced intellectual property law in governing digital spaces and transactions.
As our lives are increasingly migrating to cyberspace, which some call the Internet, so do our concerns.Injustices and discomforts in cyberspace are as pressing as the more"traditional" ones. Improving our lives increasingly means improving our living conditions in cyberspace. Just a few years ago, the chronically-online may have been perceived as asocial shut-ins. Today, those who are not online are the odd ones. The average person is said to spend most of their waking hours on a digital device.Many, if not most, agree a nearly total dominion over cyberspace by a few corporations is a big source of cyberspace injustice. But few agree on what should be done. Some want more government regulation. Some want less. But few can actually formulate what such corporations could be replaced with. Crypto, in the most general sense, has been at the forefront of8Family. Our future in cyberspace.creating hope for a better cyberspace. Bitcoin has done incredible things in digital finance. Many believe crypto can do the same for the rest of cyberspace and produce viable replacements for the tyrannical platforms we all use. But very little of that has materialized.This book will explain what went wrong, and lay out a concrete plan of action. We will make important technical contributions, but the biggest contribution of this book shall be to our collective understanding.
This document discusses several topics related to technology and society from session 9. It begins with an index of upcoming session topics such as the internet, web 2.0, social media, new economies, free culture, and communication in the network society. Session 9 focuses on free culture and Google. There is a debate about the concept of "free culture" and how copyright laws have changed over time. The session then discusses Google by providing facts and figures about the company in an infographic, and analyzing whether Google truly organizes information or fragments it. The document examines Google's terms of service and business model, and considers if regulations for telecommunications could apply to Google. It also discusses some potential unintended consequences of new technologies.
Creative commons, an alternative solution to copyright restrictionsalbamunyoz
This report provides an analysis and exhaustive explanation of Copyright restrictions in order to encourage creators to choose Creative Commons licenses. The purpose is not only to give a clear understanding of why authors should chose Creative Commons licenses, but also to raise awareness of the harmful consequences of Copyright for the whole society or the public domain.
Creative commons, an alternative solution to copyright restrictionsalbamunyoz
This report provides an analysis and exhaustive explanation of Copyright restrictions in order to encourage creators to choose Creative Commons licenses. The purpose is not only to give a clear understanding of why authors should chose Creative Commons licenses, but also to raise awareness of the harmful consequences of Copyright for the whole society or the public domain.
This document discusses copyright and ethics in the digital age. It notes that technologies have changed how we interact with and produce cultural works. Where the 20th century model focused on consumers, the digital age allows everyone to be both consumers and producers. However, this has led to tensions between a culture of freely shared ideas versus intellectual property. The document also provides an overview of copyright law and discusses how digital technologies have enabled a "read-write-rip-burn culture" that the legal system has not fully addressed yet.
Viral Spiral: How the Commoners Built a Digital Republic of Their Ownaspeninstitute
The document discusses the concept of the commons sector for creativity and culture. It describes how copyright laws have expanded private ownership over public works, but that open content licenses and platforms are allowing for new forms of collaborative creation and sharing. It envisions the commons becoming a new social and economic force through open models in areas like education, science, business and citizenship.
This document is a report from The Public Domain Expert that provides links to over 200 websites containing public domain content such as books, art, photos, audio/video, and government documents. The report introduces public domain material as a treasure trove of content that can be freely used without copyright restrictions. It aims to reveal secret websites containing public domain gems that other experts have not disclosed.
Legal peace of mind kit for thought leadersJennie Vickers
The document discusses Creative Commons (CC) licensing and the confusion it can cause regarding copyright. CC licensing aims to allow authors to selectively give up certain copyright rights to enable sharing of ideas, but there is confusion over which rights are being given up. A case example is provided of unintended commercial use of a photo licensed under CC that led to a court case. For those wanting to embrace CC licensing, understanding which rights are being licensed and the practical implications is important to avoid potential legal issues.
The document summarizes key points from several authors on the topic of copyright reform. It discusses how copyright law must be updated to allow for amateur creativity, simplify rules, and decriminalize certain uses of copyrighted works. While copyright protects creators, the current system also restricts expression and access to culture. Reform is needed to balance copyright with the public's interest in a rich cultural commons.
Libraries are facing major changes due to new technologies like Google and digitization. While digitization reduces storage and access costs, copyright laws may restrict the sharing of digitized materials. The HathiTrust digital library holds over 10 million volumes but only a small portion are in the public domain. To thrive, libraries will need to revise rights policies to take advantage of technology, redefine their missions around sharing and collaboration, and preserve both digital and physical materials.
Open Source Solutions Swansea April 2009Mark Hughes
The document discusses the rise of open source solutions and their impact. It notes that open source is enabling more collaboration and participation as barriers to contributing come down. Open source library systems are increasingly available and some libraries are migrating to them from closed source solutions. Established library system vendors are both using open source components internally and releasing some open source products in response to competition.
10 Reasons why you should not install Linux. EverLana Brindley
The document lists 10 purported reasons for not installing Linux, followed by rebuttals for each point:
1. The interface is claimed to be ugly, but support is available through online forums and communities.
2. Lack of support is denied, as extensive online help exists.
3. Claims of obsolescence are rejected, and free software is said to enable democratic innovation outside traditional markets.
4. Difficulty is dismissed, noting documentation, intuitiveness, and user communities to assist newcomers.
Once installed, Linux can be removed if desired. Overall the rebuttals encourage giving Linux an open-minded try.
Music Like Water: Gerd Leonhard at A2N 2009 BerlinGerd Leonhard
All-together-now (A2N) was a great place to talk about the Future of the Music Industry. Finally, here's a place to discuss real innovation in the music industry. A summary:
* Legalize it: a public, collective, open License for the use of Music online
* Collaborative efforts to develop new, web-native revenue streams
* A new social contract for Content
The Enchantment and Shadows_ Unveiling the Mysteries of Magic and Black Magic...Phoenix O
This manual will guide you through basic skills and tasks to help you get started with various aspects of Magic. Each section is designed to be easy to follow, with step-by-step instructions.
A Free eBook ~ Valuable LIFE Lessons to Learn ( 5 Sets of Presentations)...OH TEIK BIN
A free eBook comprising 5 sets of PowerPoint presentations of meaningful stories /Inspirational pieces that teach important Dhamma/Life lessons. For reflection and practice to develop the mind to grow in love, compassion and wisdom. The texts are in English and Chinese.
My other free eBooks can be obtained from the following Links:
https://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/presentations
https://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/documents
The Book of Ruth is included in the third division, or the Writings, of the Hebrew Bible. In most Christian canons it is treated as one of the historical books and placed between Judges and 1 Samuel.
A375 Example Taste the taste of the Lord, the taste of the Lord The taste of...franktsao4
It seems that current missionary work requires spending a lot of money, preparing a lot of materials, and traveling to far away places, so that it feels like missionary work. But what was the result they brought back? It's just a lot of photos of activities, fun eating, drinking and some playing games. And then we have to do the same thing next year, never ending. The church once mentioned that a certain missionary would go to the field where she used to work before the end of his life. It seemed that if she had not gone, no one would be willing to go. The reason why these missionary work is so difficult is that no one obeys God’s words, and the Bible is not the main content during missionary work, because in the eyes of those who do not obey God’s words, the Bible is just words and cannot be connected with life, so Reading out God's words is boring because it doesn't have any life experience, so it cannot be connected with human life. I will give a few examples in the hope that this situation can be changed. A375
The Hope of Salvation - Jude 1:24-25 - MessageCole Hartman
Jude gives us hope at the end of a dark letter. In a dark world like today, we need the light of Christ to shine brighter and brighter. Jude shows us where to fix our focus so we can be filled with God's goodness and glory. Join us to explore this incredible passage.
The forces involved in this witchcraft spell will re-establish the loving bond between you and help to build a strong, loving relationship from which to start anew. Despite any previous hardships or problems, the spell work will re-establish the strong bonds of friendship and love upon which the marriage and relationship originated. Have faith, these stop divorce and stop separation spells are extremely powerful and will reconnect you and your partner in a strong and harmonious relationship.
My ritual will not only stop separation and divorce, but rebuild a strong bond between you and your partner that is based on truth, honesty, and unconditional love. For an even stronger effect, you may want to consider using the Eternal Love Bond spell to ensure your relationship and love will last through all tests of time. If you have not yet determined if your partner is considering separation or divorce, but are aware of rifts in the relationship, try the Love Spells to remove problems in a relationship or marriage. Keep in mind that all my love spells are 100% customized and that you'll only need 1 spell to address all problems/wishes.
Save your marriage from divorce & make your relationship stronger using anti divorce spells to make him or her fall back in love with you. End your marriage if you are no longer in love with your husband or wife. Permanently end your marriage using divorce spells that work fast. Protect your marriage from divorce using love spells to boost commitment, love & bind your hearts together for a stronger marriage that will last. Get your ex lover who has remarried using divorce spells to break up a couple & make your ex lost lover come back to you permanently.
Visit https://www.profbalaj.com/love-spells-loves-spells-that-work/
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Sanatan Vastu | Experience Great Living | Vastu ExpertSanatan Vastu
Santan Vastu Provides Vedic astrology courses & Vastu remedies, If you are searching Vastu for home, Vastu for kitchen, Vastu for house, Vastu for Office & Factory. Best Vastu in Bahadurgarh. Best Vastu in Delhi NCR
Sanatan Vastu | Experience Great Living | Vastu Expert
Copyright and the Kingdom
1. Copyright
and
the Kingdom
how copyright works and its
implications for world missions
version 1.0
2. contents
what everyone should know about copyright.....3 Have you ever considered how significantly the rise of
“digital” has changed everything? It is now possible for
what everyone should know about world missions.....4 more people than ever before to create and distribute
the classic model for world missions.....5 massive amounts of content, at virtually no cost. This
creates a tremendous opportunity for the advance of
getting legal permission – the “classic” way.....6 God's Kingdom all over the world.
an “open” model for world missions.....7 Content, however, is directly affected by copyright law
and copyright is an important matter. It raises some
getting legal permission – the “open” way.....8
questions, like: How does copyright work? How does
comparing the classic and “open” models.....9 copyright affect world missions? What are the
implications of restrictions on discipleship resources for
the Christian Commons...10
the global church? How do restrictions on translations
find out more...11 of the Word of God affect believers in the nearly 7,000
languages of the world?
“Copyright and the Kingdom” is designed to provide a
brief, visual overview of the world of copyright law and
its implications for world missions.
This work is based on the book The Christian
Commons – www.thechristiancommons.com.
Disclaimer: The information in this document is provided for general illustrative purposes only. Nothing herein constitutes legal or
professional advice. The information provided herein does not replace a formal, legal opinion, and users who seek advice as to the rights
involved in any intellectual property licensing transaction should consult with a licensed attorney.
3. 1998 – life + 70 years
what everyone should know
about copyright 1976 – 75 years (or life) Modern copyright law was invented over 300 years ago
+ 50 years to maximize the economic value of a creative work by
granting specific rights to the creator of the work. Once
these rights expire, the work passes into the Public
Domain, where there are no copyright protections.
copyright basics Copyright originally only lasted for 14 years (with an
If you create it, you own it.* optional 14-year extension). Over time, however, the
Copyright protection happens automatically, when the work is created—you do not length of copyright has been extended repeatedly. This
need to register the copyright first. lengthening of copyright has been embraced by the
If you own it, copyright grants you exclusive rights to the work: “all rights reserved.” church with little discussion on the implications for
The rights preserved for a copyright holder include: copying & redistributing the work, ministry or the theology of intellectual property ownership
creating derivatives (including translations) of the work, publicly performing or and discipleship resources.
displaying the work.
You must get permission (usually as a license) to use what someone else owns. Many works have little (if any) commercial value within
U.S. copyright law is provided for in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. only a few years after they are published, but they are
Copyright law is remarkably similar around the world: by default, no one can legally do still under copyright for over a century: the life of the
much of anything with someone else's content for many decades after the owner's author + 70 years (or 50 years, in some countries). As a
death, unless they get a license from the owner (or the owner's heirs) to do so. result, many works of the 20th century are “orphan
works”, which makes it nearly impossible to license
those works since they may still be under copyright.
1831 – 28 years [+ 14 years]
Further, many old works that no longer have commercial
value may have tremendous ministry value, particularly if
1790 – 14 years [+ 14 years, translated into a minority language.
optional extension] length of copyright in the U.S. over time (simplified)
Note: leveraging copyright for financial gain is not immoral or
unbiblical. It is a legitimate approach to funding ministry.
*There are limited exceptions to this, such as in contexts pertaining to “work for hire” agreements and scope of employment.
3
4. what everyone should know
about world missions
least-reached people groups
Completing Jesus' mandate to “make disciples of every
people group” (Matthew 28:19) includes providing
discipleship resources in the heart language of every
people group, so they can grow spiritually. This is an
immense challenge because the 7 billion people in the
world are not evenly distributed among the nearly 7,000
languages of the world.
The linguistically “least of these” are the millions of
people who speak a language having less than 10,000
speakers. They comprise 0.1% of the world's
population and so tend to be forgotten or left for last.
But they urgently need discipleship resources.
Many believers are ready today to start translating
the linguistically existing discipleship resources for effective use in their
'least of these' own languages. Copyright law, however, prevents them
from legally doing so, because translation of content
requires permission. Permission is virtually impossible
for them to acquire because of massive legal, financial,
cultural, linguistic and technical obstacles. They are
locked out.
4
data source: Ethnologue: Languages of the World. Sixteenth. Dallas, TX, USA: SIL International, 2009. http://www.ethnologue.com. map source: Joshua Project (www.joshuaproject.net) and Global Mapping International (www.gmi.org)
5. the classic model for world missions
The traditional approach to meeting the need for
discipleship resources in the world's thousands of
languages has not changed significantly since the
invention of Gutenberg's printing press, over 500 years
ago. It works like this:
Content is created and (usually) translated.
The content is stored in a “silo” that functions as a
controlled-access library.
A distribution portal makes the content available in
a read-only manner to the consumer.
The consumer consumes the content and provides
analytics back into the system.
This classic model is in use in “brick-and-mortar”
libraries, and has been imported into the digital world
as well (e.g. Amazon's Kindle library). It works well for
its intended purpose: to provide read-only access to
advantage disadvantages copyright-restricted content for a small number of
provides read-only access to tends toward inequality—smaller languages are often lowest priority people in a limited number of (usually) large languages.
pre-packaged, “all rights does not scale well—becomes top-heavy and inefficient with size, due in large
But it does not scale well as a model for reaching
reserved” content for people in a part to the need for managing copyright restrictions for hundreds of millions of
limited number of (usually) larger everyone, everywhere, in every language with
people, in thousands of languages, and in dozens of legal jurisdictions around
languages the world, for each and every use of tens of thousands of resources. urgently-needed discipleship resources.
provides maximum financial does not provide what is needed—the global church is not given legal
incentive for creation of works freedom to translate, complete, adapt, revise, repurpose, redistribute, or use the
content effectively 5
6. getting legal permission – the “classic” way
Think of a discipleship resource that could be useful for
the spiritual growth of Christians around the world—
maybe a Bible study or training course. If they want to
legally translate it and adapt it for use in their language,
they face a dizzying number of steps that require
significant time, resources, and legal expertise on their
part.
Getting legal permission to translate and use someone
else's discipleship resource the “classic” way takes so
much time and effort that it often just does not happen.
This is especially true when there are linguistic, cultural,
geographic, legal, and technological barriers in the mix.
All too often, the sheer number of steps in the process
creates such a bottleneck that the process grinds to a
halt. The global church is frequently unable to clear the
legal hurdles that prevent them from taking existing
discipleship resources and making them effective in
their own language and culture. Breaking the law and
hoping not to get caught is not an ethical solution.
But there is another way...
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photo credit: Edward Townend, cc by
7. an “open” model for
world missions What do Wikipedia, the Linux operating system, and
Open Street Map all have in common? Two things:
1. the content in each of these “open collaboration”
projects is released from copyright restrictions
under an open license
2. the thousands of people who create the content in
each project do so for a purpose they consider
greater than making money from the product.
What if the church adopted this new model of “open
collaboration” as a means of equipping believers in
every language with adequate discipleship resources?
a license for freedom! By working together as the body of Christ all over the
world, we can collectively create a core of quality
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike discipleship resources in every language, more rapidly
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 and at far less cost than would otherwise be possible.
You are free:
Three things are needed for this to happen:
to Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work
to Remix — to adapt the work open-licensed discipleship resources (content)
to make commercial use of the work* open-source tools (software)
Under the following conditions:
a willingness for people and organizations to
Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner
specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that collaborate openly (process).
*Why not include a “non-commercial use only” restriction? suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).
While it seems that such a restriction would be a good thing for free Share Alike — If you alter, transform, or build upon this This new model for missions is already in
content, it critically hinders the reach of a discipleship resource. In work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the use, and served by online translation
addition to being too restrictive, it prevents good things from same or similar license to this one. platforms like Door43, online at
happening, is ambiguous, unnecessary, and makes the global
www.door43.org.
church work for nothing.
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8. getting legal permission – the “open” way
What if a content creator wants to remove everything
that hinders and allow the global church to freely use
and build upon a discipleship resource they have
created, for their unhindered spiritual growth? What is
the best way for that to happen?
Instead of requiring each person who wants to use it in
their language to contact them for each and every use
of the resource, they could pre-clear the entire global
church to use it in any way they need. This would
remove the legal bottleneck and open the door for
effective ministry without any obstacles.
By releasing a discipleship resource under a Creative
Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, anyone
can translate, adapt, build on, redistribute, and use the
resource without any restrictions. They only need to
agree to the two conditions of the license: give credit
where credit is due (pointing a link back to the owner's
website) and release anything they create from it under
the same license. In this way, the resource gets “locked
open” and what was released by the creator of the
original resource as free and unrestricted, stays free
and unrestricted forever, for everyone.
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9. comparing the classic and “open” models
The classic model for world missions has as its final
goal a finished product, like a book. The product is
classic model “open” model generally created by a small group of “experts” with
limited direct involvement in the project by others. Every
content licensing “all rights reserved” “some rights reserved”
aspect of the project tends to be closely monitored and
limitations of use very restricted unrestricted (with conditions) highly controlled, from the creation of the content to the
distribution of the finished work. This incurs a high
metaphor limited-access library unwalled garden (i.e. the “Christian Commons”) degree of overhead, driving cost of production up, and
use of content read-only (“consume”) read-write (“consume + create”) significantly limiting the reach of the content. The model
tends to “give a fish” (i.e. a finished, “all rights
end goal distribution of pre-packaged content derivatives built from content reserved” product to consume), but often does not
extend beyond that.
content creation closed, insider-only open collaboration of self-selecting individuals
The “open”model is dependent on open-licensed
sphere of control every aspect of content creation, distribution, source of original content
content that legally permits a large, self-selecting, and
and use
geographically-distributed group of intrinsically-
cost extremely expensive extremely inexpensive motivated people to work together in the project. The
(built by cognitive surplus)
source of the content is controlled, but derivative works
reach top down, no plans for smallest 1/4th of any & every language, no matter the size are encouraged and are evaluated on their own merit—
languages
as they were before copyright was invented (like during
management overhead massive, increasingly centralized, top-heavy with minimal, distributed, decentralized the Reformation) and are still, for works not under
increased reach copyright (the Public Domain). The end goal is both a
Biblical foundation “If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it “Nevertheless, we have not made use of this product (like a translated book) and a process (the
too much if we reap material things from you?” right, but we endure anything rather than put an continued revision and maintenance of the translation
—1 Corinthians 9:11 ESV obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.” over time). In this regard, the focus is “teaching them to
—1 Corinthians 9:12 ESV
fish” (and giving them the tools to do so without
restriction).
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10. the Christian Commons
Nearly 2,000 years ago, some Christians faced a
significant problem: they were in great need and had no
The Christian Commons is a means of meeting those needs. The Church's solution
growing core of open- licensed
discipleship resources that is to the problem was gracious, voluntary, sacrificial, and
collectively owned and built by extremely effective:
the global church.
Organizations and individuals Now the full number of those who believed were of
have unrestricted access to
this “unwalled garden” of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the
content, as well as the legal things that belonged to him was his own, but they
freedom to translate,
adapt, revise, re-
had everything in common... There was not a
purpose, redistribute, needy person among them... —Acts 4:32,34 ESV
and use the content—
without restriction and Today, the Church faces the same problem in the
without needing to ask spiritual realm: believers urgently need discipleship
anyone for permission.
resources to foster their spiritual growth. Releasing
discipleship resources under open licenses (like a
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike) effectively
puts them perpetually into the “Christian Commons.”
This “unwalled garden” of discipleship resources is held
the classic model: funding & legal agreements in common by the entire global church as a dynamic,
In the classic model, read-only content is
made available to consumers as finished growing core of spiritual content. Anyone, anywhere can
products. Funding from these products help translate and make these “open” discipleship
(whether sales or donations to the
organization as the project owner resources effective in any language, in less time, with
or exclusive distributor) goes less expense, and without any restrictions.
back into the organization.
Relationships between Together, we can provide adequate discipleship
organizations are governed resources, in any language, for every people group.
by legal agreements that
grant formal permission to
use content in specified ways.
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