Additional resource:

The Game Is On by Copyright User. CC-BY 3.0

This site offers many resources in various formats that focus on understanding copyright. The website serves three main functions: first, it aims to help creators understand their rights and options relating to copyright (including using CC licensing); second, it attempts to help users understand the rights, permissions, and exceptions that apply to copyright; finally, resources exist to educate users, with more nuanced and thorough explanations and scenarios. Among the educational resources is a short animated-series, The Game Is On, which is a parody of a Sherlock Holmes case. The series points to and contextualizes many of the common questions and concerns that are linked to copyright and the reasons why it would be important. In addition, the site also has other creative takes on discussing copyright such as “Copyright Myth-Reality Cards,” which call out and debunk some common misconceptions relating to copyright.

Additional resource:

Quick Guide to Creative Commons by National Copyright Unit, COAG Education Council. Available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.

This resource provides a series of graphics to represent the rights, permission, and restrictions offered by each of the CC licenses. This resource is a complement to the CC licenses information introduced in Unit 3. It provides the same basic information found on the CC page, but also uses the same language for each license type to explain what users may and may not do when using each license. This site is also helpful for individuals and institutions using and developing OER in Australia specifically, since it has pages with lists of locations to find OER in Australia.

This was the most helpful resource for use in this course as well as when helping other users with choosing the right licenses and terms. What is most helpful is that the language to breakdown the terms of each of the commons deeds is clear, concise, and direct. One important thing to consider is that it relies on users understanding the particularities of “commercial” or examples of changes that are and are not allowed by NC and ND licenses. While this is also mentioned in Unit 4.1, one resource I think may be a helpful complement to this resource is the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation’s Licensing Flowchart. What’s helpful about it is makes the choices for which license practical and subjective. Each licensing condition is phrased using casual language like “Am I ok with other people copying and distributing my content without asking my permission everytime?”

Another new addition: relevant to unit 2.4

Exceptions to copyright: An Overview by The Intellectual Property Office (UK). All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Exceptions to copyright: An Overview provides details on some of the changes that took place in 2014, with UK copyright law. The document, provided by the Intellectual Property Office of the UK, explains how the laws relating to fair dealings and other exceptions have changed, and what new rights and restrictions apply when using copyrighted materials. Readers can get a brief definition of copyright and details about recent changes that have been applied to intellectual property law in the UK. In addition, the guide suggests a number of other resources that users can inspect to learn more about how specific exceptions apply in the context of education, research and private study, archives and preservation, making works accessible for the disabled and more. This document is highly relevant because copyright exceptions are CC license exceptions, and it is important to understand those limitations, from a broader global context. This quick guide highlights exceptions apply in educational situations, non-commercial work, and when making a resource accessible for users with disabilities.

Suggested addition:

Managing Copyrights & Negotiating Agreements by UC Berkeley Scholarly Communications Service. CC-BY-NC 4.0

I think this resource would be a good addition to this unit, as it offers helpful insight and advice for faculty to consider, especially when submitting manuscripts for publication. This source outlines what rights creators have, what conditions publishers usually require when works are submitted for publication, and ways in which creators can negotiate with publishers to retain more of their rights. In addition, it also suggests some approaches for authors who want to get back rights, after they have already assigned to someone else. Moreover, they provide some forms and templates that faculty can draw on when considering how best to proceed when negotiating terms or attempting to regain rights. It should also be said that the resource does not give you legal advice, but it does provide clear insight on the issues and some approaches that can be taken to resolve them.

New resource, specific to unit 5.3 "Creating and Sharing OER":

Create OER with Open Author by OER Commons, CC-BY-NC-SA 3.0

This unit seems to be lacking in actual resources for creating OER. Many of the resources mentioned discuss methods and resources for adopting an OER, but nothing for creators who want to make something new. As a recommendation, I would suggest adding the Open Author module builder from OER Commons. The resource makes it easy to combine text, pictures, sounds, files, and video, and save them as openly licensed educational resources. Users can design resources in ways that are most appropriate for them and their students. Users can also print and download their resources as a PDF for easy sharing.

New addition:

Case Law by Creative Commons. CC-BY 3.0

This resource is both helpful and reassuring when considering how to counsel others about the kinds of protections and rights they may have when using CC licenses. Users who may be concerned about types of infringement they may face (mainly lack of attribution), may find it helpful to see examples of prior cases and the types of resolutions that were met. One additional resource that may be helpful to see, if not here than in the additional resources page, would be this page on international cases relevant to CC licenses, to show that 1) they are being used globally and protections apply regardless of place of use, and 2) that there are a very small number of cases that seem to actually need legal intervention in courts.

I would like to see this video, Open Educational Resources: A Brief Explanation by Lance Eaton (CC-BY 3.0), added to the course materials. This resource introduces Open Educational Resources and Creative Commons licenses. The video is aimed particularly at informing faculty about some of the barriers to access students may have to face when using traditional textbooks and licensed e-resources, such as the costs and short-term access to licensed materials. The video also outlines how OER can lend more flexibility and convenience in course design than other resources. In addition, it expands on some of the freedoms afforded when open resources (i.e., the ability to build, adapt, and adopt works covered by CC licenses). It may be a helpful early resource to use when introducing faculty to OER for the first time, to acquaint them with some of the major conversations that commonly surround OER and CC licenses. This video may also be used as an alternative to the current “Why Open Education Matters” article, which is slightly more biased and presents less of a practical idea of why students or faculty, who are typically the most directly impacted by OER.