San Francisco, USA & London, UK – June 14, 2005>

Creative Commons, a nonprofit organization that provides flexible
copyright licenses for authors and artists, and openDemocracy.net, an
independent online magazine for debate about global politics, today unveiled a new
partnership to bring works by the world’s leading scholars and writers into the
global commons.

openDemocracy.net is the first online publisher of its size and caliber to adopt
Creative Commons licensing. Starting today, members of the public will be free to
republish most articles on the openDemocracy.net site in any non-commercial publication in
the world. “This move embodies the democratic values we champion,” says openDemocracy’s
editor Isabel Hilton.

Since 2001 openDemocracy.net has published more than 2,600 articles by
writers from around the world on issues relating to democracy, politics and
culture. Contributors include scholars, journalists, policymakers and
politicians. openDemocracy.net today released the work of 150 existing authors
under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives license. All
future authors will be encouraged to publish their work under this new default
license, although they will also be free to opt for traditional “All rights
reserved” level of copyright, or an even more permissive Creative Commons
license instead.

Chairman & CEO of Creative Commons, Lawrence Lessig, said “It is exciting
that the important content published in openDemocracy will be able
to freely circulate around the globe and assist in spreading the ideas and
arguments of its contributors. Creative Commons is honored that openDemocracy
felt that Creative Commons licenses were suitable for this purpose.”

About openDemocracy.net

openDemocracy was founded in London in 2001. Its authors span the
globe, and include some of the most respected writers and scholars from across
the political spectrum. Past contributors include Todd Gitlin, Mary
Kaldor, Kofi Annan, Anne-Marie Slaughter, John le Carré, Ian McEwan, and Siva
Vaidhyanathan. Visit: opendemocracy

About Creative Commons

A nonprofit corporation founded in 2001, Creative Commons promotes the
creative re-use of intellectual and artistic works—whether owned or
in the public domain—by empowering authors and audiences. It is sustained
by the generous support of the Center for the Public Domain, the John D. and
Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Omidyar Network Fund, and the Hewlett Foundation.
For general information, visit Creative Commons

Contact

Solana Larsen, openDemocracy New York Editor +1 646 220-1459
solana.larsen@openDemocracy.net

Neeru Paharia, Creative Commons Executive Director +1 415 946-3068
neeru@creativecommons.org

Press Kit: here