Revisiting the Potential of Free Content
Neil Butcher, Commonwealth of Learning, July 26, 2007.

The author argues that "releasing OERs under a licence restricting commercial use of the content creates unnecessary restrictions and should be avoided wherever possible." It seems to me that there is a real push to allow commercial exploitation of freely produced learning resources - since the only people who are inconvenienced by this are corporations, should we wonder where this argument is coming from? The corporations are using their considerable lobbying power to make their case directly to the foundations and the funding agencies, including the Commonwealth of Learning. It's like they can't understand the concept of free educational resources - that is to say, available at no charge. The point of open educational resources isn't to create wealth for some publishing company. It isn't to tack some 'open for business' sign at the entrance to our brains.

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Re: Revisiting the Potential of Free Content

ian_gs, July 27, 2007

> the only people who are inconvenienced by this are corporations

Stephen, I think you are oversimplifying the situation here a little, and I would like to offer an alternative perspective. Many educators are salaried, with those salaries ultimately paid by the taxpayer. Many others (me, for example) earn our living without drawing directly on the state, by selling an educational product of some kind. Maybe tutoring, or maybe books, or maybe elearning content. Of those educators who create or mashup content, the state-salaried ones often do it as a giveaway adjunct to their teaching remit. The independents generally do it as their main source of income.

"Noncommercial" CC licenses effectively lock out the independents, and reinforce the state's monopoly over education. I don't think that is a good thing, and having been reading you for some time, I wonder if you do either? [Comment] [Permalink] [Previous][Next]

Re: Revisiting the Potential of Free Content

Anymouse, August 9, 2007

Stephen, I would just like to highlight that you have been quite selective in extracting a quotation from the article I wrote. While I personally avoid 'non-commercial' licences in content I generate (the point from which you extracted the quotation), I too am perplexed by the vehemence of the NC lobby. I wrote a longer version of this article (accessible from the same link) which seeks to problematize this specific issue because I think there is a real risk that the process is indeed focused increasingly by some on creating 'educational' communities that will ultimately serve as vehicles for selling advertising and other commercial services into education. While I don't seek to take a position on this matter per se, I do believe it is a problem that educators should be acutely aware and concerned about.

Neil Butcher [Comment] [Permalink] [Previous][Next]

Re: Revisiting the Potential of Free Content

Anymouse, September 4, 2007

Dear Jym:

Hello, my name is Meredith Nelson and I work with the publishing company Gale. Did you know that Gale's AccessMyLibrary.com site is a wonderful free educational resource?

I was reading your posting on free content, and I would like to share some news that your loyal blog readers will appreciate. AccessMyLibrary.com offers teachers and students nearly 30 million free articles from journals, magazines and other trusted publications. While your blog readers are probably cringing at their out-of-pocket back to school costs, please let them know that they no longer have to pay for education publications.

Teachers can go to AccessMyLibrary.com to search for the latest education news and research, lesson plan ideas, and industry publications. A few of the topics featured include: government, health, astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, geography, social sciences, business, economics, literature, sociology, language and art.
AccessMyLibrary's free collection of reference materials, journals and articles are available to teachers through their local libraries with their library card. Those without library cards can simply sign up through AccessMyLibrary.com!

If you have any questions regarding AccessMyLibrary.com, do not hesitate to contact me at the address below.

Thank you,

Meredith Nelson
mnelson@ecnext.com
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