What is Public Domain Material?
Public domain material includes works that are not protected by copyright, allowing anyone to use, modify, and share them freely. Examples include works explicitly marked as Public Domain Mark (PDM) or those whose copyright has expired. These works can be used, adapted and transformed without legal restrictions.
Adapting Public Domain Material
When you adapt a public domain content (e.g., through edits, additions, or other creative transformations), you create a new work. This adaptation can be licensed under a Creative Commons (CC) license, enabling others to use your version under specific terms.
Key Considerations for Licensing Adaptations
1. Public Domain Status
- The original work remains in the public domain, free for unrestricted use.
- Your adaptations can introduce new protections, but they apply only to the changes you’ve made; your work is a separate entity: imagine a branch coming out of a pear tree but instead of a pear, it generates an apple!
2. Applying a Creative Commons License
- You can license your adapted work under Creative Commons terms (e.g., CC BY, CC BY-NC) to define how others can use your contribution.
- Example distinction:
- Original image: Public Domain (no restrictions).
- Your adaptation: Licensed under CC BY or another Creative Commons license.
3. Attribution Practices
- While attribution is not legally required for public domain works, it is good practice to credit the original source.
- Example attribution for clarity:“This adaptation of a public domain image is licensed under CC BY-NC. The original work xxxxx remains in the public domain.” This ensures clarity that the creative commons license applies only to your adaptations.