Comments on: Opening the Government, Starting with the Transition http://citmedia.org/blog/2008/12/02/opening-the-government-starting-with-the-transition/ Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:49:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Dan Gillmor http://citmedia.org/blog/2008/12/02/opening-the-government-starting-with-the-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-2809 Dan Gillmor Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:47:00 +0000 http://citmedia.org/blog/?p=1568#comment-2809 Kathy, if it's already public domain as you say, then putting a more restrictive license on it won't have any effect -- you can't take what's in the public domain and copyright it. The point worth noting here is the move, however relatively small so far, toward more openness. That I think we should be happy about, especially given the horrendous record of the current administration in this area. Kathy, if it’s already public domain as you say, then putting a more restrictive license on it won’t have any effect — you can’t take what’s in the public domain and copyright it.

The point worth noting here is the move, however relatively small so far, toward more openness. That I think we should be happy about, especially given the horrendous record of the current administration in this area.

]]> By: Kathy http://citmedia.org/blog/2008/12/02/opening-the-government-starting-with-the-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-2808 Kathy Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:21:55 +0000 http://citmedia.org/blog/?p=1568#comment-2808 Dan, I think it's useful to have a CC license for UGC, but it should not be retroactive. However, Change.gov is a government site being built with funds from Congress (ie, taxpayers). The site specifically cites the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 as its reason for being. Thus, the site is an official part of the U.S. Government. As such, the Obama-originated material is public domain on creation. Having a CC license on that content actually makes it more restrictive, not less restrictive. Dan, I think it’s useful to have a CC license for UGC, but it should not be retroactive.

However, Change.gov is a government site being built with funds from Congress (ie, taxpayers). The site specifically cites the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 as its reason for being. Thus, the site is an official part of the U.S. Government. As such, the Obama-originated material is public domain on creation. Having a CC license on that content actually makes it more restrictive, not less restrictive.

]]> By: Dan Gillmor http://citmedia.org/blog/2008/12/02/opening-the-government-starting-with-the-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-2807 Dan Gillmor Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:18:31 +0000 http://citmedia.org/blog/?p=1568#comment-2807 I've been trying to get YouTube to do this as well, and have had lots of "we'll think about it (until hell freezes over)" responses... I’ve been trying to get YouTube to do this as well, and have had lots of “we’ll think about it (until hell freezes over)” responses…

]]> By: Jon Garfunkel http://citmedia.org/blog/2008/12/02/opening-the-government-starting-with-the-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-2806 Jon Garfunkel Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:04:04 +0000 http://citmedia.org/blog/?p=1568#comment-2806 My sense is that one of the undercurrents is that Lessig trying to get YouTube to saddle up to Creative Commons (<a href="http://lessig.org/blog/2006/10/the_ethics_of_web_20_youtube_v.html" rel="nofollow">after two years</a>). If only the prezvid people had hooked up with blip.tv in a show of solidarity... My sense is that one of the undercurrents is that Lessig trying to get YouTube to saddle up to Creative Commons (after two years). If only the prezvid people had hooked up with blip.tv in a show of solidarity…

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