Difference between revisions of "Intergovernmental Organizations"

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This page is currently under construction.
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Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) are using CC to share research, data, and educational materials they produce. IGOs, like all creators who want wide dissemination of their content, realize they can benefit greatly from the use of Creative Commons licenses--maximizing the impact of their resources and efforts. A number of IGOs believe that as publicly minded institutions, adopting an open licensing policy for at least some subset of their publications is the preferred mechanism for ensuring the broadest and most widespread use and reuse of the information they publish.
  
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==Introduction==
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This page explains some of the benefits for IGOs choosing to publish content under Creative Commons licenses, clarifies some unique legal considerations, provides case study of IGOs already using CC, aggregates relevant frequently asked questions, and addresses common licensing scenarios and options available to IGOs.  
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Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) are using CC to share research, data, and educational materials they produce. IGOs, like all creators who want wide dissemination of their content, realize they can benefit greatly from the use of Creative Commons licenses--maximizing the impact of their investments. A number of IGOs have already agreed that as publicly minded institutions, they believe adopting an open licensing policy for at least some subset of publications is the preferred mechanism for ensuring the broadest and most widespread use and reuse of the information they publish.
 
  
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This page explains some of the benefits for IGOs that publish content under Creative Commons licenses, clarifies unique legal considerations, provides case study examples of IGOs already using CC, aggregates frequently asked questions, and addresses common licensing scenarios and options available to IGOs.  
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==Why IGOs Should Use CC==
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==Why Intergovernmental Organizations Benefit from Using CC==
  
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===IGOs' missions are already aligned with sharing information and resources===
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===IGOs' missions are aligned with sharing information and resources===
  
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Disseminating useful information widely is aligned with the mission and practice of most IGOs. Sharing information and content -- ranging from education assessment metrics to cultural heritage resources to research studies on the environmental impact of fossil fuels -- is central to the purpose and function of IGOs. IGOs hope that the information and content that they create is maximally useful to the diverse communities they serve, helping citizens, governments, civic institutions, and businesses make informed decisions.
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Disseminating useful information globally is aligned with the mission and work of most IGOs. Sharing information and content -- ranging from education assessment metrics to cultural heritage resources to research studies on the environmental impact of fossil fuels to health information -- is central to the success of IGOs. Information and content that IGOs create can be made maximally useful to the diverse communities they serve, helping citizens, governments, civic institutions, and businesses across all sectors.
  
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Almost all IGOs maintain Terms of Service (TOS) on their websites, and most TOSs contain information about copyright. A brief overview of several IGO TOS notices shows that most allow site visitors to download, copy, and use website materials, publications, and educational resources at least for personal, non-commercial purposes as long as copyright notice information remains intact and the user gives credit to the original author (usually via name, title of publication, and associated URL). These requirements are aligned with Creative Commons licensing, and applying CC licensing to works communicates these permissions in a clear, easy-to-understand fashion. In addition, CC licensing provides other benefits, making resources meant to be shared more easily discoverable via search engines like Google.
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===CC helps clarify rights to users in advance===
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Materials like reports, photographs and videos released under the default All Rights Reserved  copyright require the end user to ask permission in order to use the resource in the absence of some applicable exception or limitation under applicable copyright law. This framework means IGOs must dedicate resources to review and approve those requests. From the user perspective, the time and effort required to obtain the permission can be significant.  The result is that resources are less likely to be used, shared, or repurposed, significantly diminishing the potential impact of information published.  (The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has described the challenges to dissemination of information under the All Rights Reserved copyright framework as follows: "While information technology makes it possible to multiply and distribute content worldwide and almost at no cost, legal restrictions on the reuse of copyrighted material hamper its negotiability in the digital environment ... [T]he Creative Commons license is by far the best-known license for such content, the use of which is growing exponentially." [http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/35/7/38654317.pdf OECD (2007) Giving Knowledge for Free: The Emergence of Open Educational Resources, p.13].
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Creative Commons licenses offer a simple, standardized way to grant flexible copyright permissions in advance. The adoption of Creative Commons licenses increases the dissemination, discoverability, reuse, and translatability of research and education materials. CC licenses are the global standard for open content licenses, and are leveraged by corporations, institutions, and government bodies worldwide. Creative Commons licenses lower the transaction costs normally associated with seeking and granting permission to use resources by granting limited permission in advance.
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===CC helps ensure IGOs receive credit for the resources they create===
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IGOs who use CC licenses get the credit they deserve for the work they create. All CC licenses require that attribution be given to author in the manner specified.  IGOs also need not worry about expending resources crafting custom terms of service specifying how their works can be used.  Creative Commons licenses contain vetted, legally robust standard copyright terms and conditions.  These common features serve as the baseline, on top of which IGOs can choose to grant additional permissions if desired.
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==FAQ: CC Licenses and IGOs==
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IGOs are unique in several respects from individuals and other organizations. Below are some common questions about how CC licenses work for IGOs.
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===Can intergovernmental organizations ("IGOs") use CC licenses?===
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Anyone may use CC licenses for works they own, including IGOs.  The reasons for doing so vary, and often include a desire to maximize the impact and utility of works for educational and informational purposes, and to enhance transparency.
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Creative Commons published a 3.0 ported license suite specifically intended for use by IGOs.  These ported licenses -- known as the 3.0 IGO ported licenses -- grant all of the same permissions as our international (unported) 3.0 licenses; however, they have two unique provisions.  First, unlike all other 3.0 licenses, where the licensor is an IGO then unless otherwise mutually agreed, disputes are resolved by mediation or, if that is unsuccessful, through arbitration.  This provision was included in response to the challenges IGOs face with enforcing their copyright.  IGOs have privileges and immunities from national legal processes, including judicial processes.  Waiving that immunity so they can bring suit in a national legal forum can be exceedingly difficult.  Instead, IGOs typically use mediation and arbitration as the preferred means to resolve legal disputes.
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Second, unlike the other 3.0 licenses, the 3.0 IGO ported licenses contain a cure period just like CC's new 4.0 licenses.  If a licensee fixes a license violation within 30 days of discovery, the license automatically reinstates.  The inclusion of the provision is intended to help reduce the likelihood that mediation and arbitration become necessary.
  
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===CC helps clarify rights to users in advance===
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===What should I know before I use a work licensed under the IGO 3.0 ported licenses?===
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Materials like reports, photographs and videos released under the default All Rights Reserved  copyright require the end user to ask permission in order to use the resource. This framework results in IGOs spending a significant amount of time approving use requests. The effort required to clear such materials is significant, and the resulting copyright friction means that these resources are less likely to be used, shared, or repurposed.  Without a standardized open license, the impact of the resources will be significantly diminished because potential users will remain unsure of how they can use the materials.<ref>The OECD has described the challenges to dissemination of information under the All Rights Reserved copyright framework as follows: "While information technology makes it possible to multiply and distribute content worldwide and almost at no cost, legal restrictions on the reuse of copyrighted material hamper its negotiability in the digital environment ... the Creative Commons license is by far the best-known license for such content, the use of which is growing exponentially." [http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/35/7/38654317.pdf Giving Knowledge for Free: The Emergence of Open Educational Resources]</ref> 
 
  
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Creative Commons licenses offer a simple, standardized way to grant flexible copyright permissions. The adoption of Creative Commons licenses can increase the dissemination, discoverability, reuse, and translatability of research and education materials. CC licenses are the global standard for open content licenses, and are leveraged by corporations, institutions, and government bodies, and IGOs worldwide. Creative Commons licenses lower the transaction costs normally associated with seeking permission to use resources by granting some rights in advance.  
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You should be aware of the dispute resolution mechanism in the license, which is contained in Section 8(h). Disputes involving works licensed by IGOs under the licenses are resolved by mediation and arbitration.
  
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[1] The OECD has described the challenges to dissemination of information under the All Rights Reserved copyright framework as follows: "While information technology makes it possible to multiply and distribute content worldwide and almost at no cost, legal restrictions on the reuse of copyrighted material hamper its negotiability in the digital environment ... the Creative Commons license is by far the best-known license for such content, the use of which is growing exponentially." [http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/35/7/38654317.pdf Giving Knowledge for Free: The Emergence of Open Educational Resources]
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Generally, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediation mediation] is a process used to avoid settling a dispute in court.  The process typically involves a neutral third party (called a mediator) who tries to help the parties resolve the dispute. Mediation is not binding, however, unless the parties agree otherwise. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arbitration Arbitration] is also used to avoid settling a dispute in court, but the third party (called an arbitrator) has authority to make a decision in favor of one party.  Arbitration tends to be more formal than mediation.
  
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===CC helps ensure IGOs receive credit for the resources they create===
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'''''Before using any work licensed by an IGO under the IGO 3.0 ported licenses, be sure you understand what the mediation and arbitration processes are that have been chosen by the IGO and know what they mean for you. IGOs typically designate those in the copyright notice attached to the work.'''''
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IGOs who use CC licenses get the credit they deserve for the work they create. All CC licenses require that attribution is given to the IGO, and under the terms specified by that group. The IGOs also don’t need to worry about expending the effort to draft specific terms of services to designate how their works can be used; the Creative Commons licenses already do that, and every CC license works around the world and lasts as long as applicable copyright lasts (because the licenses are built on copyright). These common features serve as the baseline, on top of which IGOs can choose to grant additional permissions when deciding how they want their work to be used.
 
  
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==FAQ: Why CC Licenses Work for IGOs==
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===How does the mediation and arbitration provision work?===
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Some IGOs have voiced concerns over how CC licenses operate given their status as IGOs. Below are listed some common questions and concerns, and why CC can be used.
 
  
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===Can anyone use a CC license? What about governments and intergovernmental organizations ("IGOs")?===
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Assuming a violation of the license has occurred and the dispute cannot be amicably resolved, the process starts with mediation. The IGO/licensor sends a notice of mediation to the licensee designating the mediation rules if those are not already identified in the copyright notice accompanying the work.  If mediation is unsuccessful, then either the licensor or licensee can chose to commence arbitration. If arbitration becomes necessary, then those proceedings allow for remote participation (e.g., by teleconference, written submissions, etc.) whenever practicable.
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Anyone may use CC licenses for works they own, including governments and IGOs. CC licenses are frequently used by governments and IGOs to license copyrightable works. The reasons for doing so vary, and often include a desire to maximize the impact and utility of works for educational and informational purposes, and to enhance transparency.
 
  
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Creative Commons licenses have desirable features that make them the preferred choice over custom licenses. CC licenses are standard and interoperable, which means works published by different authors using the same type of CC license can be translated, modified, compiled and/or remixed depending on the  particular license applied. Creative Commons licenses are also machine-readable, allowing CC-licensed works to be easily discovered via search engines such as Google. These features maximize distribution, reuse and impact of works published by governments and IGOs.
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IGOs have the ability to designate the particular mediation and arbitration rules in the copyright notice attached to the work, though the licensor and user of the work can always agree otherwise.  If none is designated and no agreement is reached, then the mediation rules will be those identified in the notice of mediation sent to the licensee.  If the matter progresses to arbitration, then unless otherwise stated in the copyright notice the rules that apply are the current Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (known as the [http://www.uncitral.org/uncitral/uncitral_texts/arbitration.html UNCITRAL arbitration rules]). The UNCITRAL rules are widely used by IGOs and others.
  
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===What should IGOs consider before applying a CC license?===
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'''''Note that Creative Commons does not endorse any particular mediation or arbitration rules.'''
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Creative Commons recommends that IGOs use the international (formerly known as the "unported") licenses. While no CC license (ported or unported) waives privileges and immunities that may apply to IGOs, the international licenses may be preferred because they have not been adapted to the laws of any particular jurisdiction. Using these licenses instead of a license adapted to the implementation of copyright law in a particular jurisdiction (a “ported license”) avoids any implication that an IGO has consented to jurisdiction or forum for resolution of disputes arising under the licenses, or has agreed that disputes arising under the licenses should be resolved in accordance with a particular jurisdiction’s laws.
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''
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Creative Commons has published special deeds for the IGO 3.0 ported licenses that emphasize that disputes are resolved by mediation and arbitration.  You should always take note '''before using a work by an IGO''' whether the license used is an IGO 3.0 ported license.
  
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===Do CC licenses impose abligations on IGOs (or other licensors) that could result in liability?===
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===Do the 3.0 IGO ported licenses operate differently in other respects?===
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No. CC licenses do not impose obligations on licensors, but instead grant others permission to use the licensed works consistent with license terms and conditions. The only exception is the undertaking by licensors not to enforce their copyright as long as the license terms are respected. CC licensors have the choice of enforcing (or not) any copyright licenses they grant.
 
  
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This point is worth stressing. CC licenses impose no affirmative obligations of any kind on licensors. There are more than 500,000,000 CC-licensed texts, photos, websites and other works. Since the licenses were first published more than 8 years ago, CC has not been made aware of any claim made against a licensor under the licenses. The reason is simple: licensors are only waiving their rights to enforce copyright under certain circumstances, not accepting any affirmative duties or obligations in the license itself. This makes CC licenses qualitatively different from the kinds of contracts or agreements that could subject IGOs to the jurisdiction of any particular country or legal process.
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No, the only differences are the mediation and arbitration processes and the ability to cure a violation and regain your rights as a licensee. CC and the IGOs took great care to ensure that the interpretation of the licenses are no different otherwise than the 3.0 international licenses. The adjudicating body (the mediation or arbitration tribunal) will interpret the scope of the license and remaining obligations in accordance with general principles of international law. Exceptions and limitations remain unregulated by those licenses as well.
  
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As still further protection, in the unlikely event a claim is made against an IGO under a CC license, nothing in the license waives applicable privileges and immunities, or subjects the licensor to the jurisdiction of any given country’s court or legal system.
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Note that the IGO 3.0 port is designed so that only IGOs as defined in the license are able to use mediation and arbitration.  It is not available to anyone else using the licenses.
  
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===What law would be applied if an IGO itself chooses to enforec the terms of the license against a violator?===
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== Examples of CC License Use by Intergovernmental Organizations ==
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None of the CC 3.0 international licenses (contains a forum or jurisdiction selection clause. The only ported 3.0 licenses that contain a forum selection clause are the Hong Kong 3.0 licenses. This suite is not recommended for use by licensors who want to preserve their right to bring an action in another forum.
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===Commonwealth of Learning===
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* The Commonwealth of Learning has incorpoated CC BY-SA as part of its open educational resources (OER) policy: http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/27703.
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* Interview with Sir John Daniel about the policy: http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/28384
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*COL's guidelines for open educational resources (OER) in higher education: http://www.col.org/resources/publications/Pages/detail.aspx?PID=364
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*[[Case_Studies/Commonwealth_of_Learning]]
  
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A few of the ported licenses contain a choice of law provision. CC suggests that IGOs use the international licenses because they do not contain any forum selection clause or any choice of law, leaving the decision of which forum and law applies to the tribunal in which enforcement of the license is sought by the IGO.
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=== European Cultural Foundation ===
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* The [http://www.eurocult.org/ European Cultural Foundation's] project [http://www.labforculture.org/ Labforculture.org] releases materials under a CC BY-NC-ND license.
  
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Those responsible for setting intellectual property or publication policy within an IGO should consider making these points clear in their copyright notice. One suggested implementation is:
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=== European Funded ===
  
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© YEAR by ORGANIZATION. TITLE OF PUBLICATION is made available under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License (unported): http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/. For the avoidance of doubt, by applying this license ORGANIZATION does not waive any privileges or immunities from claims that it may be entitled to assert, nor does ORGANIZATION submit itself to the jurisdiction, courts, legal processes or laws of any jurisdiction.
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* http://www.communia-project.eu/about COMMUNIA - The European Thematic Network on the Digital Public Domain, funded by the European Commission (the executive of the European Union), [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ CC BY-SA (Unported)].
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* European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) - [[Case_Studies/CERN|CERN]] publishes its book catalog online as open data using the CC0 public domain dedication and the results of some Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments are published under various Creative Commons licenses.
  
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=Case Studies=
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===European Space Agency===
  
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<div style="display:block;margin-bottom:20px;clear:both;margin-right:20px;">
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*  Rosetta NAVCAM Images Now Available Under a Creative Commons Licence: http://blogs.esa.int/rosetta/2014/11/04/rosetta-navcam-images-now-available-under-a-creative-commons-licence/
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<h2>Featured Intergovernmental Organization Case Studies</h2>
 
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<br/>{{#ask: [[Category:Casestudy]][[Tag::intergovernmental organizations]]|?Case study title|?Description|?Image Header|link=none|format=template|template=Explorebox|limit=3|sort=Case study title|order=random|searchlabel=See more Government Case Studies...}}
 
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</div>
 
  
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* Mars Express HRSC images/videos under BY-SA 3.0 (IGO): http://blogs.esa.int/communication/2014/12/18/esa-mars-express-high-resolution-stereo-camera-hrsc-images-now-available-under-a-creative-commons-licence/, and the actual video/news release: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Flying_over_Becquerel
  
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==What If... Scenarios of Using CC Licenses==
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=== Inter-American Development Bank ===
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'''The most common scenario when using Creative Commons licenses is as follows:'''
 
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An IGO posts an article about child hunger in Malaysia to their website under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial license (BY-NC).
 
  
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'''What happens:'''
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* The [http://www.iadb.org/ Inter-American Development Bank] is requiring the adoption of Creative Commons by the organizations that receive funding from the Bank in the context of the FOMIN (Fondo Multiateral de Inversiones) initiatives, particularly the ICT4BUS, a fund that promotes the adoption of e-commerce in the American continent, which has financed more that thirty initiatives in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Nicaragua and other Latin American countries. Banks require those initiative to use the GPL to license any software developed by organizations receiving support from the bank, and CC to license the documentation related with those computer programs, such as user manuals.
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A number of other organizations who are also interested in child hunger, both in Malaysia and in other parts of the world.  These organizations print the IGO’s article to hand out to their volunteers in the field, they repost the article on their own sites, and they email the article to others interested in the topic, all the time crediting the IGO who created the article.  They do not sell it or attempt to make money using the article.
 
  
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=== International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance ===
  
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'''A “but what if” Scenario:'''
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* The [[Case_Studies/International_IDEA_Publishing|International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA)]] is an IGO that supports sustainable democracy, and licenses selected publications under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported licence.  
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An IGO posts a report to their website under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial NoDerivs license (BY-NC-ND). A blogger posts a large section of the report on his blog without attributing the IGO.
 
  
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'''What happens:'''
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=== UNESCO ===
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Creative Commons suggests contacting the blogger and asking the blogger to comply with the terms of the license by posting the full report with attribution or to remove the portion that was posted. In most cases where a licensor contacts a licensee to discuss non-compliance with the license, the licensee adjusts their use to comply or removes the offending work.
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*All UNESCO publications which are published on or after 31 July 2013 must be licensed using the Creative Commons - Attribution 3.0 IGO license: https://en.unesco.org/open-access/ , http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/ERI/pdf/oa_policy_rev2.pdf
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If the licensee refuses to comply, the IGO can bring a suit in the forum of the IGOs choice.
 
  
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'''A second “What if”:'''
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=== World Bank ===
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What if the blogger attempts to file a declaratory judgment to have a court declare his use of the report legal after being asked by the IGO to comply with the license?  This is very unlikely; Creative Commons is unaware of it ever happening.  However, were it to happen, the court would use its choice of law rules to decide what law should apply to license. Since the BY-NC-ND license is very clear about it’s requirements for attribution and what constitutes a derivative work, the chances of such a declaratory judgement succeeding in this case are very slim.
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*The World Bank has incorporated CC BY into its Open Access Policy and as a default for Bank-produced research and knowledge products via its OPen Knowledge Repository: http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/32335.

Latest revision as of 18:11, 18 August 2020

Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) are using CC to share research, data, and educational materials they produce. IGOs, like all creators who want wide dissemination of their content, realize they can benefit greatly from the use of Creative Commons licenses--maximizing the impact of their resources and efforts. A number of IGOs believe that as publicly minded institutions, adopting an open licensing policy for at least some subset of their publications is the preferred mechanism for ensuring the broadest and most widespread use and reuse of the information they publish.

This page explains some of the benefits for IGOs choosing to publish content under Creative Commons licenses, clarifies some unique legal considerations, provides case study of IGOs already using CC, aggregates relevant frequently asked questions, and addresses common licensing scenarios and options available to IGOs.

Why Intergovernmental Organizations Benefit from Using CC

IGOs' missions are aligned with sharing information and resources

Disseminating useful information globally is aligned with the mission and work of most IGOs. Sharing information and content -- ranging from education assessment metrics to cultural heritage resources to research studies on the environmental impact of fossil fuels to health information -- is central to the success of IGOs. Information and content that IGOs create can be made maximally useful to the diverse communities they serve, helping citizens, governments, civic institutions, and businesses across all sectors.

CC helps clarify rights to users in advance

Materials like reports, photographs and videos released under the default All Rights Reserved copyright require the end user to ask permission in order to use the resource in the absence of some applicable exception or limitation under applicable copyright law. This framework means IGOs must dedicate resources to review and approve those requests. From the user perspective, the time and effort required to obtain the permission can be significant. The result is that resources are less likely to be used, shared, or repurposed, significantly diminishing the potential impact of information published. (The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has described the challenges to dissemination of information under the All Rights Reserved copyright framework as follows: "While information technology makes it possible to multiply and distribute content worldwide and almost at no cost, legal restrictions on the reuse of copyrighted material hamper its negotiability in the digital environment ... [T]he Creative Commons license is by far the best-known license for such content, the use of which is growing exponentially." OECD (2007) Giving Knowledge for Free: The Emergence of Open Educational Resources, p.13.

Creative Commons licenses offer a simple, standardized way to grant flexible copyright permissions in advance. The adoption of Creative Commons licenses increases the dissemination, discoverability, reuse, and translatability of research and education materials. CC licenses are the global standard for open content licenses, and are leveraged by corporations, institutions, and government bodies worldwide. Creative Commons licenses lower the transaction costs normally associated with seeking and granting permission to use resources by granting limited permission in advance.

CC helps ensure IGOs receive credit for the resources they create

IGOs who use CC licenses get the credit they deserve for the work they create. All CC licenses require that attribution be given to author in the manner specified. IGOs also need not worry about expending resources crafting custom terms of service specifying how their works can be used. Creative Commons licenses contain vetted, legally robust standard copyright terms and conditions. These common features serve as the baseline, on top of which IGOs can choose to grant additional permissions if desired.

FAQ: CC Licenses and IGOs

IGOs are unique in several respects from individuals and other organizations. Below are some common questions about how CC licenses work for IGOs.

Can intergovernmental organizations ("IGOs") use CC licenses?

Anyone may use CC licenses for works they own, including IGOs. The reasons for doing so vary, and often include a desire to maximize the impact and utility of works for educational and informational purposes, and to enhance transparency.

Creative Commons published a 3.0 ported license suite specifically intended for use by IGOs. These ported licenses -- known as the 3.0 IGO ported licenses -- grant all of the same permissions as our international (unported) 3.0 licenses; however, they have two unique provisions. First, unlike all other 3.0 licenses, where the licensor is an IGO then unless otherwise mutually agreed, disputes are resolved by mediation or, if that is unsuccessful, through arbitration. This provision was included in response to the challenges IGOs face with enforcing their copyright. IGOs have privileges and immunities from national legal processes, including judicial processes. Waiving that immunity so they can bring suit in a national legal forum can be exceedingly difficult. Instead, IGOs typically use mediation and arbitration as the preferred means to resolve legal disputes.

Second, unlike the other 3.0 licenses, the 3.0 IGO ported licenses contain a cure period just like CC's new 4.0 licenses. If a licensee fixes a license violation within 30 days of discovery, the license automatically reinstates. The inclusion of the provision is intended to help reduce the likelihood that mediation and arbitration become necessary.

What should I know before I use a work licensed under the IGO 3.0 ported licenses?

You should be aware of the dispute resolution mechanism in the license, which is contained in Section 8(h). Disputes involving works licensed by IGOs under the licenses are resolved by mediation and arbitration.

Generally, mediation is a process used to avoid settling a dispute in court. The process typically involves a neutral third party (called a mediator) who tries to help the parties resolve the dispute. Mediation is not binding, however, unless the parties agree otherwise. Arbitration is also used to avoid settling a dispute in court, but the third party (called an arbitrator) has authority to make a decision in favor of one party. Arbitration tends to be more formal than mediation.

Before using any work licensed by an IGO under the IGO 3.0 ported licenses, be sure you understand what the mediation and arbitration processes are that have been chosen by the IGO and know what they mean for you. IGOs typically designate those in the copyright notice attached to the work.

How does the mediation and arbitration provision work?

Assuming a violation of the license has occurred and the dispute cannot be amicably resolved, the process starts with mediation. The IGO/licensor sends a notice of mediation to the licensee designating the mediation rules if those are not already identified in the copyright notice accompanying the work. If mediation is unsuccessful, then either the licensor or licensee can chose to commence arbitration. If arbitration becomes necessary, then those proceedings allow for remote participation (e.g., by teleconference, written submissions, etc.) whenever practicable.

IGOs have the ability to designate the particular mediation and arbitration rules in the copyright notice attached to the work, though the licensor and user of the work can always agree otherwise. If none is designated and no agreement is reached, then the mediation rules will be those identified in the notice of mediation sent to the licensee. If the matter progresses to arbitration, then unless otherwise stated in the copyright notice the rules that apply are the current Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (known as the UNCITRAL arbitration rules). The UNCITRAL rules are widely used by IGOs and others.

Note that Creative Commons does not endorse any particular mediation or arbitration rules. Creative Commons has published special deeds for the IGO 3.0 ported licenses that emphasize that disputes are resolved by mediation and arbitration. You should always take note before using a work by an IGO whether the license used is an IGO 3.0 ported license.

Do the 3.0 IGO ported licenses operate differently in other respects?

No, the only differences are the mediation and arbitration processes and the ability to cure a violation and regain your rights as a licensee. CC and the IGOs took great care to ensure that the interpretation of the licenses are no different otherwise than the 3.0 international licenses. The adjudicating body (the mediation or arbitration tribunal) will interpret the scope of the license and remaining obligations in accordance with general principles of international law. Exceptions and limitations remain unregulated by those licenses as well.

Note that the IGO 3.0 port is designed so that only IGOs as defined in the license are able to use mediation and arbitration. It is not available to anyone else using the licenses.

Examples of CC License Use by Intergovernmental Organizations

Commonwealth of Learning

European Cultural Foundation

European Funded

  • http://www.communia-project.eu/about COMMUNIA - The European Thematic Network on the Digital Public Domain, funded by the European Commission (the executive of the European Union), CC BY-SA (Unported).
  • European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) - CERN publishes its book catalog online as open data using the CC0 public domain dedication and the results of some Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments are published under various Creative Commons licenses.

European Space Agency

Inter-American Development Bank

  • The Inter-American Development Bank is requiring the adoption of Creative Commons by the organizations that receive funding from the Bank in the context of the FOMIN (Fondo Multiateral de Inversiones) initiatives, particularly the ICT4BUS, a fund that promotes the adoption of e-commerce in the American continent, which has financed more that thirty initiatives in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Nicaragua and other Latin American countries. Banks require those initiative to use the GPL to license any software developed by organizations receiving support from the bank, and CC to license the documentation related with those computer programs, such as user manuals.

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance

UNESCO

World Bank

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