What is Creative Commons?

Creative Commons is an alterative to copyright. In essence, it gives creative folks like you and me the opportunity to tell people how we would like our work used instead of banning all use or allowing complete open source.

Why are you using it?

Simply put, I use Creative Commons because I respect my audience and like the idea of a more interactive and specific term-of-use contract. 

What does your little creative commons box thing mean?

Oh, this one? 

Cute, huh?  While there are many different options for Creative Commons licenses, mine says that:

You are free to copy, distribute and transmit my work.  Want to put Looking Up on your ipod to read on a plane or print a paper copy and give it to a friend?  Cool!   Let me know if they like it and please consider buying a dead tree copy if they do.  The foldouts are pretty cool and don't work all that well online. :)

You must attribute the work in the manner that I specify (but not in any way that suggests that I endorse you or your use of the work).  So, if you want to use it in a school project or write a paper about it?  Awesome!  Just make sure that you include the byline- By Ursula Murray Husted and link back to this webpage.

You may not use this work for commercial purposes, and you may not alter, transform, or build upon my work.   Don’t make money from my work, don’t distribute it in a way that you profit from, and please don’t write sequels or derivative works. 

How can I get involved?

Easy!  Just check out the Creative Commons webpage and figure out which, if any, of the licenses work for what you’re working on!

What do you have against intellectual property?

Absolutely nothing!  Copyright still has important uses and purposes.  Creative Commons is not the anti-copyright. It is just another way of allowing use without prohibiting creativity. I put my work out for free on the net and then people, if they like it, buy a dead tree version or drop me a small donation via paypal.  The response has been very positive and it is great to hear from my readers. 

May I ask you a specific question about using your work? 

Of course! Drop me a line over email and we can talk.