Open Media Review

Advice from a Published Author on Negotiating a CC License

One of the questions I get when I speak and participate at events discussing the Creative Commons is from creators working with traditional publishers. I can rattle off a few facts and examples but to date have lacked a particularly coherent answer. I remain convinced that such creators can and should pursue traditional outlets to support their creativity. I would suggest they diversify, though, considering some of the experimental models others have tried as well as developing their own.

I was very pleased to see a link to Michael Mandiberg’s post on the subject on the Creative Commons blog. Michael has a new design book out for which he successfully negotiated a Creative Commons license for the print edition (from a very large publisher as it turns ). He has distilled his experience down into ten recommendations. He provides a good number of links to substantiating material useful in answering questions and concerns publishers may have about public licensing.

I especially like:

2. Know that your publisher is scared

Publishers saw what happened to the music industry. Sales of print books are down across the board. Publishers know things are going to change, but they don’t know what that change is going to be. Know that your publisher is willing to experiment. “Inspire them to be leaders.” (ironic, but serious)

And:

4. Pitch it with facts

…

And explain the the 75/22/3 breakdown:

“David Blackburn, a Harvard PhD candidate in economics, published a paper in 2004 in which he calculated that, for music, “piracy” results in a net increase in sales for all titles in the 75th percentile and lower; negligible change in sales for the “middle class” of titles between the 75th percentile and the 97th percentile; and a small drag on the “super-rich” in the 97th percentile and higher. Publisher Tim O’Reilly describes this as “piracy’s progressive taxation,” apportioning a small wealth-redistribution to the vast majority of works, no net change to the middle, and a small cost on the richest few”

I encourage you to read the rest if you’ve been asked this question or are a creator considering it for yourself. I plan on keeping this link handy and trying to retain as much of the post for off the cuff sharing as I can manage.

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