Open Context uses a suite of flexible copyright licenses developed by Creative Commons for openly sharing online content. These licenses do not put scholarship into the public domain. They do, however, provide flexible and efficient tools to shape the distribution and application of content where copyright law operates as too blunt or restrictive an instrument.

 
Licenses in Open Context
Why Choose an Open License?
How to Choose a License
Description of Creative Commons Licenses

 

Licenses in Open Context

Open Context provides contributors with choices among several Creative Commons open licenses. To publish with Open Context, all contributors must choose Creative Commons license. Creative Commons licenses give rights to copy, share, and sometimes build upon a work provided that the original author is clearly attributed and other optional conditions are met. These licenses do not put works into the public domain; authors retain their copyright even with use of Creative Commons licenses. That means authors can use their own work in anyway they see fit, even while the public is bound by the terms of these licenses. These licenses provide flexible and efficient tools to shape the distribution and application of content.

NOTE:
You can only license content that you own. Therefore, the license options you chose apply only to your own original content. You must clearly indicate the origin and authorship of parts of your contribution that are owned or developed by others. Please seek needed permissions when using other people's content.

ADDITIONAL NOTE:
We strongly encourage users to read about Creative Commons licenses, their risks, their purpose, and their application. This FAQ discussion has very useful information. Archaeological field documentation typically contains a great deal of "expressive" copyright protected content and would be appropriate for Creative Commons licenses. However, some datasets may not have much expressive content, in which case, Creative Commons licenses should not be applied. See the Science Commons FAQ on databases for more details.

 

Why Choose an Open License?

Scholarly content is more valuable if it is shared, discussed, evaluated, and available to inspire future research. Open licenses facilitate each of these aspects of scholarly communication. Because these licenses encourage copying and sharing while retaining an author’s attribution, they may increase the circulation of your name and research results.

 

The Attribution License

The Creative Commons Attribution (or "By") License is the most open and least restrictive choice for posting on Open Context. We recommend this license for three primary reasons:

(1) The Attribution License does not contain any commercial restriction for reprinting and republishing. Because it lacks this restriction, content carrying this license can see wider circulation online and offline, including incorporation in commercially printed course-packs.

(2) Most primary documentation sees significant revision before being published in journals or edited volumes. Such revisions are new works that can be shared under different licensing terms (including standard copyright). Therefore, you may still share a conference version of your work with an Attribution licenses without affecting the dissemination of later versions.

 

How to Choose a License

When contributors use the Penelope import tool to upload content, they will be able to choose from a suite of licenses to attach to their content as they proceed through the import process. Until Penelope is available, however, contributors must specify at the time of submission of data (by email or post) which of the following licenses they choose for their content.

In the absence of a selection, Open Context will default to the "Attribution" license; however, contributors may contact us at any time to adjust the type of license attached to their content.

 

Description of Creative Commons Licenses

Attribution. (RECOMMENDED for Open Context)	Permissions Granted: The author allows you to copy, distribute, display, and perform this copyrighted work and create derivative works based upon it. Conditions Required: (1) One must attribute (cite) the creator of this work. Learn More (and see full legal text): Creative Commons- Attribution
Attribution and Noncommercial. (RECOMMENDED if commercial republication is planned)	Permissions Granted: The author allows the public to copy, distribute, display, and perform this copyrighted work and create derivative works based Conditions Required: (1) One must attribute (cite) the creator of this work. (2) The above permissions are given for noncommercial purposes only. Learn More (and see full legal text): Creative Commons- Attribution, Noncommercial
Attribution, Noncommercial, Share Alike.	Permissions Granted: The author allows the public to copy, distribute, display, and perform this copyrighted work and create derivative works based Conditions Required: (1) One must attribute (cite) the creator of this work. (2) The above permissions are given for noncommercial purposes only. (3) If others alter, transform, or build upon this work, they may distribute the resulting work only under a license identical to this one. Learn More (and see full legal text): Creative Commons- Attribution, Noncommercial, Share Alike
Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivative Works.	Permissions Granted: The author allows the public to copy, distribute, display, and perform this copyrighted work. Conditions Required: (1) One must attribute (cite) the creator of this work. (2) The above permissions are given for noncommercial purposes only. (3) One may not alter, transform, or build upon this work. Learn More (and see full legal text): Creative Commons- Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivatives
Attribution and Share Alike.	Permissions Granted: The author allows the public to copy, distribute, display, and perform this copyrighted work and create derivative works based Conditions Required: (1) One must attribute (cite) the creator of this work. (2) If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under a license identical to this one. Learn More (and see full legal text): Creative Commons- Attribution, Share Alike
Attribution and No Derivative Works.	Permissions Granted: The author allows the public to copy, distribute, display, and perform this copyrighted work. Conditions Required: (1) One must attribute (cite) the creator of this work. (2) One may not alter, transform, or build upon this work. Learn More (and see full legal text): Creative Commons- Attribution, No Derivatives