Creative Commons

CC is elated to announce that we have officially become an NGO partner with UNESCO👏! Our two organizations have enjoyed a longstanding relationship, and this formal recognition will allow us to enhance our shared commitment to promoting openness for the benefit of people around the world. Learn more about what this means for CC by reading our new blog post: https://lnkd.in/eU93ZPrM

Scientific achievements positively impact us all, so why is so much of it locked behind inaccessible paywalls? Between October 2023 to July 2025, we partnered with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to promote the use of CC BY on life science preprints. Read our article below to learn more about our work on this initiative.

As the role of libraries continues to evolve, expertise in open licensing has become a crucial asset. Librarians play a key role in the discovery, development, description, licensing, curation, and sharing of Open Educational Resources (OER), as well as advocating for and supporting their use. CC licenses are the most widely used open licenses for open education and open access projects globally. In the Certificate for Academic Librarians, participants will learn about the specifics of utilizing CC licenses and CC licensed content for educational and research purposes. Additionally, they will learn about open practices and copyright law. Register for the September 29 course: https://lnkd.in/e_FD8Vfi

If you’re on the fence about signing up for a CC Certificate course, read what our alum had to say: “I found this course to be immensely worthwhile. I gained a better understanding of the Creative Commons licenses and how to effectively apply them in different scenarios, as well as how licenses work with copyright law to ensure that creators and users have a myriad of possibilities when sharing work. As a librarian, I feel much more confident discussing and providing guidance to my colleagues who are interested in creating or using open work, such as Open Educational Resources. Most importantly, through taking this course I now have a network of colleagues from all over the world who I can turn to with questions and guidance. Creative Commons truly is a movement!” – Roxanna Palmer We offer three Certificate course options: the Certificate for Academic Librarians, the Certificate for Educators, and the Certificate for Open Culture (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums. Sign up for a September 29-December 7 course here: https://lnkd.in/e_FD8Vfi

Last week, Jennryn Wetzler, our Director of Learning and Training, and Brigitte Vézina, our Director of Policy and Open Culture, hosted a workshop at #WikimaniaNairobi. Participants gained a greater understanding of open licensing and newfound inspiration to contribute to the commons by creating music and building digital collections.  During an interactive activity at the workshop, Jennryn and Brigitte led the group in remixing CC-licensed and public domain music using Citizen DJ, a project that allows users to create hip-hop music from openly available audio and video collections provided by the Library of Congress. Participants also learned how to create an attribution for their remixed work. Thank you to those who attended! If you missed the workshop, you can watch the recording here: https://lnkd.in/eDnn5Rzd. Follow along to the recording and remix your own beats on Citizen DJ using this link: https://lnkd.in/djX7Ptq. Feel free to share your beats and attributions in the comments section below!

As galleries, libraries, archives, and museums increasingly cater to online audiences and users, they often seek Creative Commons legal tools, expertise, and community support. Our CC Certificate for Open Culture course helps participants learn the skills they need to: 👐 Develop capacity in opening access to cultural heritage. 🧑🎓 Develop a deeper understanding of open licensing and copyright considerations with digitization projects, Rights Statements, Traditional Knowledge Labels, working with the public domain, and more. Register for the September 29 - December 7 term: https://lnkd.in/e_FD8Vfi

The voting period for SXSW 2026 is open until August 24! Check out the proposals and vote for your favorites. This year, CC has submitted two proposals for consideration. Please share them with your network! “Rewriting the Social Contract: AI & the Future of Knowledge.” AI depends on human-made content. Like many others, we’re concerned about the social contract enabling open sharing breaking down. As creators block access and retreat behind paywalls, trust in the digital commons erodes. At the same time, some embrace AI for new creative expression. What happens to the digital commons if the internet no longer wants to be read by machines? This panel will feature Anna Tumadóttir, Kayvan Ghaffari, Lisa Watts, and Simon Hudson. To vote for these panels, create an account or sign in at https://lnkd.in/dtgRe7V4. Once logged in, click here https://lnkd.in/eV6KXRqm and tap on the heart icon if you think this panel should be chosen for #SXSW 2026.

The voting period for programming at SXSW 2026 is underway! You have until August 24 to review proposals and vote for your favorites. CC has submitted two proposals for consideration this year, and we hope you’ll share them with your network! “25 Years of Creative Commons: Insights & Reflections.” In 2026, Creative Commons turns 25. For decades, CC has empowered creators, educators, and institutions to share knowledge openly, fueling a global movement for access and equity. As we face a new era shaped by AI, climate urgency, and digital enclosure, the open movement must evolve. This session will feature panelists Anna Tumadóttir, Lane Becker, and Lawrence Lessig. To vote for this panel, create an account or sign in at https://lnkd.in/dtgRe7V4. Once logged in, click here: https://lnkd.in/e54btD2n. Next, tap on the heart icon if you think this panel should be accepted for #SXSW 2026.

Last month, the European Union finalized its draft Code of Practice (CoP) for the EU AI Act. Throughout the drafting process, we at CC have provided comments and are pleased to see that this version of the CoP has addressed many of our key concerns. We look forward to continuing our engagement in this space. Read our article below to learn more about our thoughts on the CoP and the work that still lies ahead.

Now is the time to vote for programming at SXSW 2026! From now until August 24, help shape the conference by reviewing session proposals online and voting for your favorite presentations, panels, discussions, demonstrations, and more. CC has submitted two panel proposals for consideration: Rewriting the Social Contract: AI & the Future of Knowledge This panel explores the backlash against AI training, the risk to open knowledge, and the need for new norms that protect human rights, creativity, and agency. Panelists include: Anna Tumadóttir, Kayvan Ghaffari, Lisa Watts, and Simon Hudson. Learn more and vote for it here https://lnkd.in/eV6KXRqm. 25 Years of Creative Commons: Insights & Reflections This panel reflects on CC’s legacy and explores the future of openness, including how legal, technical, and social frameworks can support knowledge sharing, open infrastructure, and creativity in a world increasingly defined by automation and uncertainty. Panelists include: Anna Tumadóttir, Lane Becker, and Lawrence Lessig. Learn more and vote for it here: https://lnkd.in/e54btD2n. To cast your vote for these panels, create an account or sign in at https://lnkd.in/dtgRe7V4. Once logged in, click on the links for the panels above and tap on the heart icon if you think they should be accepted for #SXSW 2026.