Creative Commons

In response to large AI models accessing vast amounts of digital content without permission, attribution or compensation, pay-to-crawl systems have emerged as a possible way to help sustain the creation and publication of content online. However, overbroad and indiscriminate use of pay-to-crawl systems could ultimately represent a shift away from the spirit of the open web towards a more tightly controlled and monetised content ecosystem. Read our full issue brief for more on how pay-to-crawl systems work and considerations on the long-term effects of these models on openness on the web. ❓What do you think about pay-to-crawl? Let us know in the comments. 

A free online meeting on the work that openRxiv and the Continuous Science Foundation have been doing to create modular and interactive scientific publishing. The event features CC's Director of Open Science, Monica Granados!

Next week is #GivingTuesday and we need your help to raise $100,000 before the end of this year! A lot has changed since we first introduced CC licenses 25 years ago. New technologies are transforming how we create, distribute, access, and interpret knowledge. They are also changing how information is controlled on the internet. AI systems are built on the commons and trained on centuries of human thought and culture. What started as a promise of better technology and even more access to knowledge is putting all that we’ve built at risk. We can’t let that happen. That’s why we need your support. #GivingTuesday is a week away. Show your support with a donation, and share on social media why YOU support Creative Commons! https://buff.ly/NsRtgAs Works used: Marie-Amélie, Queen of the French by Baron François Joseph Bosio, 1841, CC0. Irises by Vincent van Gogh, 1890, CC0. Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat by Vincent van Gogh, 1887, CC0. View on the Seine: Harp of the Winds by Homer Dodge Martin, 1893, CC0. Pierre de Wiessant by Auguste Rodin, 1885, Founder Cast by Alexis Rudier, 1900, CC0. Remixed by Creative Commons/Annemarie Eayrs, 2025, CC0.

How would equitable access to heritage change life for future generations in your region? Patricia Diaz Rubio, the Executive Director of Wikimedia Chile explains the lasting effects of open heritage. "In short, it's about giving the next generation the ability to see, study, and re-use our own heritage as something that belongs to us, not hidden behind barriers or licenses, but open to everyone, everywhere." ✍️ Sign the Statement: https://buff.ly/uaXFxKN

Completing the CC Certificate course not only deepens your understanding of open licensing, it also empowers you with the skillset needed to help others obtain this knowledge. A group of alumni from the CC Certificate for Educators program used their learnings to design a community-based training initiative for Indonesian educators, introducing the principles of openness, the use of CC licenses, and the ethical practices in sharing and creating digital content. Called “Open Horizons: Creative Commons for Indonesia’s Educators”, the training program was held between April and May 2025 with a total of 129 participants from five locations and resulted in an average success rate of 81%. Learn more about the program’s outcomes and key takeaways for both participants and facilitators: https://buff.ly/CNbUboj. Make a difference in your community! Sign up for a CC Certificate course here: https://buff.ly/7Suw7Bj

Creative Commons is thrilled to support an inspiring regional event hosted by CC Uruguay — a celebration of free culture, creativity, and collaboration! Next week in Montevideo, the festival will feature panels, discussions, hands-on workshops, and live concerts. If you’re nearby, don’t miss it! If not, follow along for updates and highlights from this special gathering. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dV3XgCUG

What does equitable access mean to your country? Alwaleed Alkhaja, the Head of Open Access & Copyright at the Qatar National Library, shares the profound effects that open heritage would have on his region. ✍️ Sign the Statement: https://lnkd.in/geJ3-uWJ

If you’re passionate about making knowledge and culture accessible, we have a course for you! The CC Certificate for Open Culture/GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) is a 10-week virtual professional development training course designed for institutions and community groups dedicated to cultural heritage preservation. In taking this course, you’ll 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. Sign up for the January 26 - April 5 course here: https://buff.ly/7Suw7Bj

The Getty Museum has made 88,000 artworks available for free under CC0 licenses! This is a huge win for open culture—for art lovers, creators, educators, learners, researchers, and all future generations. Huge congratulations to the Getty for this big step! Start creating at getty.edu/art/collection 🖼️

A couple years ago, we identified five actions to advance open culture and better sharing of cultural heritage: 🤲 Protect the public domain from erosion. 👇 Reduce the term of copyright protection. 🧑⚖️ Legally allow necessary activities of cultural heritage institutions. 🛡️ Shield cultural heritage institutions from liability. 🫂 Ensure respect, equity, diversity, and inclusivity. Learn more about how these actions will allow better sharing of cultural heritage by reading our report titled “Towards Better Sharing of Cultural Heritage - A Call to Action to Policymakers” here: https://buff.ly/EotlPsj Image: Los Dedos © 2021 by Mariano Mantel is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0