Open Content Explained  

2. Defining Open Content

In general, open content is thought to be any kind of creative work that can be freely viewed, copied, and reused. “Creative work” includes written text, pictures, audio, video – basically any kind of non-software creative output that can be stored as a digital file. It is often produced collectively within a virtual community, with little consideration of immediate financial reward. [1]

Providing a formal definition of open content is difficult. The term is relatively new; it is not defined in any print dictionaries and no organization maintains a definition thought to be “official”. Open content does exist as a specific licensing concept – a public license called the Open Content License narrowly defines what open content is and isn't. But this isn't the only open content license, nor is it considered to be the best or most authoritative. Besides, open content doesn't exist simply as a licensing concept; it also represents a social philosophy, a cultural movement, and a method of creation. [2]


<< Introduction | | Related Concepts >>