Creative Commons Licensing

First things first: I apologize in advance for how painfully boring this post is. You have my permission to throw blunt objects and/or mid-sized rodents. I will have a new illustrated post up tomorrow (or Thursday at the latest), so please don't unfollow based solely on the snoozefest that is this post.

So let's talk about creative commons.

Over the past few weeks, I've had several people contact me with questions about sharing, using or altering my work. I've also had someone suggest that I should watermark my pictures by adding my blog address to each of them.

The second will definitely not happen, but as for the first? Yes! Please! Share, use, print, alter, repost, tweak, play. I made it for you. It's yours. I've officially licensed all of my work - text and image - through Creative Commons. If you look at the bottom of my blog, you'll see this image:



If you want to read it (in human-friendly words, no less!), click here. But the gist of it is that you're free to reuse, repost or remix anything that I've posted here, with a few limitations:

• You have to attribute the original work to me with a link to www.claybaboons.com (ie. don't pretend that you made the stuff that I originally made. That's just lame.)
  
• You can not use any of my images or text for commercial use (ie. you can't make any money off of my stuff, since I'm not making any money off of my stuff. Sounds fair, right?)
  
• If you alter any of my images, you have to attribute the original to me and license your derivative work using the same license that I have on the original work (ie. other people will be allowed to reuse, repost or change the stuff that you made using my stuff.)
• I retain the "moral rights" to my work (ie. don't turn it into anything hateful, racist, homophobic or pornographic. That's just not cool.)

You're under no obligations to tell me how or when you use my work, although I'd love it if you'd let me know!

So why am I doing this?

Quite simply, I want to share my work. This blog is not a for-profit site. I make stuff because it's fun. I post it because I want people to read it. The more people share my work, the more opportunities there will be for new eyes to see it (and - dare I hope - enjoy it). I love the openness and collaboration* inherent** in Creative Commons. And I honestly believe that anyone unethical enough to steal or otherwise abuse other people's work will do so whether or not it is "allowed".

*I always have to spellcheck that word
**again with the spellcheck

So go on! Be the first to take one of my pictures and make it your own! I'd love to see what you do!

Want more information? Here's a cheerful stop-motion animation video by Creative Commons Aoteoroa NZ - complete with cool kiwi accent - illustrating how Creative Commons licensing works: