I really think it's wonderful. I understand why it's important for  
artists, creators, and makers to retain rights to the products of  
their work, but I can see absolutely no reason why a public  
institution wouldn't want to share its resources with the public it  
serves. Most museums' missions include the goal of disseminating  
information and increasing public knowledge and understanding. I've  
been exploring The Commons at Flickr over the past few days, and I'm  
so happy I have access to these beautiful, funny, and amazing images.  
So thank you to the museums who are participating.

Jennifer Rae Atkins
Andrew Merriell & Associates
7198 Old Santa Fe Trail • Santa Fe, NM • 87505
P: 505-982-3950 • F: 505-820-6674
www.merriell.com






On Oct 8, 2008, at 8:22 AM, Batson, Barbara (LVA) wrote:

> To answer Randy Little’s question regarding copyright and Flickr,  
> here’s the response from Dale Neighbors, manager of Prints and  
> Photographs at the Library of Virginia:
>
> Yes, it is a requirement for participation in the program (The  
> Commons at Flickr) that institutions claim "no known copyright  
> restrictions" on the content that they share.  As an established  
> educational institution, the Library of Virginia honors the  
> intellectual property of artists and innovators who make invaluable  
> contributions through their creative disciplines. We are committed  
> to protecting the rights of creators and copyright holders, and are  
> always interested in learning additional information about the  
> images in our permanent collection.
>
>
> The Adolph Rice Collection was donated to the Library of Virginia  
> without restrictions, and the Library staff could see no reason that  
> these historical images should not be made readily available to the  
> public for research and enjoyment.  However, we do not deny the  
> possibility that the sharing of these images may inadvertently  
> infringe upon the rights of copyright holders unknown to us.  It is  
> clearly stated on the site that the user of the images understand  
> that the Library of Virginia cannot guarantee that the private or  
> commercial use of the images will not violate the rights of  
> unidentified copyright holders.  Users are reminded to conduct an  
> independent analysis of applicable law before proceeding with a  
> particular new use.
>
>
> Normally the Library charges a standard Usage Fee to reproduce  
> images from our collections, but as George Oates from Flickr noted,  
> "It's liberating and generous to give things away for free -  
> especially when you're a public institution."
>
>
>
> Barbara C. Batson
>
> Exhibitions Coordinator
>
> The Library of Virginia
>
> 800 East Broad Street
>
> Richmond, VA 23219-8000
>
> 804-692-3518
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
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