Interesting Discovery- Creative Commons

Recently I decided to update the look and feel of the blog to better represent the essence of the material.  While doing this I stumbled across the perfect graphic to use on the blog.  It was so inspiring it even help me create a better title for the blog, which really captured my main goal for the blog: to get on the digital media bandwagon that everyone else was already enjoying.  But, I was worried about putting the picture on the blog without getting permission from the original creator.

After discussing my dilemma with a friend who is already a blogger a himself (The Krimson King), he informed me of the Creative Commons licensing agreement that many social media authors participate in.  It is an easy to read and follow copyright that allows the author to tell others how they want their work used.  Most often, authors choose to let others use their work, as long as they give the author credit.  Credit is often attributed by linking directly to the author's site to display the information, or providing a reference to the author and/or their site in a similar fashion.  (Please visit Creative Commons website for additional information: http://creativecommons.org/).

I was very excited to hear about Creative Commons and even more thrilled when I realized the author of my picture was also participating in Creative Commons through Flickr.  Apparently many social media sites are utilizing Creative Commons to allow people to easily publish their work on their sites.  The author's Creative Commons license said I could use the picture as I pleased, as long as I gave him credit.  To give him his due credit, I simply linked directly to his page to incorporate the picture on my blog.  If you right click on the Social Media Bandwagon photo, at the top of the blog and click "View Image," it takes you to the author's site.

With great, easy to use policies like Creative Commons that promote sharing, the Social Media arena has achieved another big win for its cause!