The Public Domain Manifesto is an effort to describe the strengths of public domain, and to encourage support.
Some of the general principles:
- The Public Domain is the rule, copyright protection is the exception.
- Copyright protection should last only as long as necessary to achieve a reasonable compromise between protecting and rewarding the author for his intellectual labour and safeguarding the public interest in the dissemination of culture and knowledge.
- What is in the Public Domain must remain in the Public Domain.
- The lawful user of a digital copy of a Public Domain work should be free to (re-)use, copy and modify such work.
- Contracts or technical protection measures that restrict access to and re-use of Public Domain works must not be enforced.
I recommend that you review the manifesto, and if you agree with it, show your support by signing it.
found via Open Source Initiative
