Skip to content

There are too few nonprofit organizations like CC fighting for the commons – support our vital leadership with an end of year contribution. Donate today!

Category: Policy

Exploring Preference Signals for AI Training

Better Internet, Open Culture, Technology
Close up photo of three round metal signs lying haphazardly on a stony path, each with a big white arrow pointing in a different direction, embossed on a greenish-blue background. "Choices" by Derek Bruff, here cropped, licensed via CC BY-NC 2.0.

One of the motivations for founding Creative Commons (CC) was offering more choices for people who wish to share their works openly. Through engagement with a wide variety of stakeholders, we heard frustrations with the “all or nothing” choices they seemed to face with copyright. Instead they wanted to let the public share and reuse…

Understanding CC Licenses and Generative AI

Better Internet, Licenses & Tools, Open Creativity, Technology
A black and white illustration of a group of human figures in silhouette using unrecognizable tools to work on a giant Creative Commons icon. CC Icon Statue” by Creative Commons, generated in part by the DALL-E 2 AI platform. CC dedicates any rights it holds to this image to the public domain via CC0.

Many wonder what role CC licenses, and CC as an organization, can and should play in the future of generative AI. The legal and ethical uncertainty over using copyrighted inputs for training, the uncertainty over the legal status and best practices around works produced by generative AI, and the implications for this technology on the…

Supporting Open Source and Open Science in the EU AI Act

Better Internet
An abstract European Union flag of diffused gold stars linked by golden neural pathways on a deep blue mottled background. "EU Flag Neural Network" by Creative Commons was cropped from an image generated by the DALL-E 2 AI platform with the text prompt "European Union flag neural network." CC dedicates any rights it holds to the image to the public domain via CC0.

As the EU seeks to finalize its landmark AI Act, CC has joined with Eleuther AI, GitHub, Hugging Face, LAION, and Open Future in offering suggestions for how the Act can better support open source and open science. As we’ve said before, we welcome the EU’s leadership on defining a regulatory framework around AI and…

Update and Next Steps on CC’s AI Community Consultation

Better Internet
Generated by AI: An abstract green, gold, and pink illustration of plants and circuit boards. “Plant Circuits” by Creative Commons was generated by the DALL-E 2 AI platform with the text prompt “vines and digital circuit boards in the style of Erté.” CC dedicates any rights it holds to the image to the public domain via CC0.

We’re nearly halfway through 2023 and this year has already been an eventful one for generative artificial intelligence (AI), presenting unique challenges and opportunities for the Creative Commons (CC) community of creators who embrace open sharing. From the community and beyond, we are seeing urgent demands for support in navigating AI’s implications for the commons.…

CC Joins Key AI Panel in Brussels

Copyright
A heavily pixelated blue European Union flag with pixels scattered across it in different colors. “EU Pixelated” by Creative Commons was cropped from an image generated by the DALL-E 2 AI platform with the text prompt “pixel art of computer code streaming across an EU flag.” CC dedicates any rights it holds to the image to the public domain via CC0.

As a part of CC’s continuing engagement in policy to shape generative artificial intelligence (AI), Brigitte Vézina, our Director of Policy and Open Culture, participated in a June session hosted by the European Internet Forum: Generative AI, Art & copyright: from creative machines to human-powered tools. The panel was held in the framework of EU…

European Parliament Gives Green Light to AI Act, Moving EU Toward Finalizing the World’s Leading Regulation of AI

Copyright

Today, the European Parliament (EP) adopted its position in plenary on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. This is the culmination of a months-long process whereby thousands of pages of amended text have been pored over by policymakers, civil society and industry alike. The strong, cross-party endorsement (499 votes in favor, 28 against and 93 abstentions)…

Join CC at RightsCon: AI for a Better Internet and Open Journalism

Better Internet
White and green text saying “RightsCon Costa Rica” and a big Creative Commons logo embedded in an orange circle, both on a green rectangle with orange bottom left and top right corners. “CC at RightsCon 2023” by Creative Commons is dedicated to the public domain via CC0 1.0.

Are you attending RightsCon 2023, either in person in Costa Rica or virtually online? Join the Creative Commons team and community members for two sessions, one in-person for RightsCon participants in San José  and the other virtual so anyone can attend with a free online pass. These sessions on artificial intelligence (AI) and open journalism…

Everything might be OK! Warhol v. Goldsmith

Copyright
An orange and black Andy Warhol silk-screen painting of Prince, circa 1984. Orange Prince” by Andy Warhol.

The United States Supreme Court released its opinion today in Andy Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith. While it’s hard to predict the full ramifications of this decision at this point, our initial opinion is that this decision is not ideal, but also not the death knell for transformative fair use that many feared it could have…

Knowledge & Cultural Institutions Defend Net Neutrality in EU

Copyright
A photo of The EU Flag overlayed on top of statues of Castor and Pollux

"The EU Flag and Castor and Pollux" by waldopics is licensed under CC BY 2.0 .

Earlier this year, the European Commission started a new consultation on “The future of the electronic communications sector and its infrastructure.” On the one hand, it’s good that policymakers are examining how to expand broadband access and ensure the capacity of networks continues to expand and support helpful innovation. On the other hand, the consultation…