Sharing with Creative Commons: A Business Model for Content Creators

PLATFORM: Journal of Media and Communication, pp. 64-93, December 2010

29 Pages Posted: 25 May 2011

See all articles by Cheryl Foong

Cheryl Foong

Curtin University - Curtin Law School

Date Written: 2010

Abstract

Creative Commons (CC) is often seen as a social movement, dismissed by critics as a tool for hobbyists or academics who do not sell their creations to make a living. However, this paper argues that the licensing of creative copyright works under a CC license does not preclude commercial gain. If used wisely, CC licenses can be a useful tool for creators in their quest for commercial success. In particular, this paper argues that the sharing of creative works online under a CC license allows creators to circumvent traditional distribution channels dominated by content intermediaries, whilst maintaining a level of control over their copyright works (i.e. explicitly reserving some rights but not all rights). This will be illustrated by case studies on how CC is being used by content creators and intermediaries respectively, and how successful their respective methods are in harnessing this tool.

Keywords: creative commons, business model. commercial, licensing, copyright, open content, open access

Suggested Citation

Foong, Cheryl, Sharing with Creative Commons: A Business Model for Content Creators (2010). PLATFORM: Journal of Media and Communication, pp. 64-93, December 2010 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1847106

Cheryl Foong (Contact Author)

Curtin University - Curtin Law School ( email )

Australia

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