Industry Insider: Eric Steuer

Nov 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Jason Feehan and Randy Chertkow

           
 

CREATIVE COMMONS' LICENSES CAN HELP YOU PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC IN NEW WAYS

How would a musician go about choosing which Creative Commons license to use? What are the steps?

We have an easy-to-use licensing tool at creative commons.org that anyone can use. You answer a few questions that define the extent of the rights you want to give to people, put in your attribution and contact information (so it can be included in the license), and we'll point you to the license to use that's the most appropriate for your needs. You then copy the HTML and paste that into your Website, and it will link back to our site. Clicking the link to the license brings up a page on our site that explains what people can and can't do with your music.

Do you have to be a lawyer to understand these licenses?

No, and that's really one of the main problems we were trying to solve when we launched CC. We provide licenses that are easily understood by the public so lawyers don't need to get involved. So if you find something on the Web that has a CC license, all you need to do is click on the icon and you'll see the license written out in very simple language — just the three or four things you can or cannot do. But if you want, you can click from there to read the full 15 to 20-page legal document written by our lawyers and updated throughout the year.

Because you talk about HTML and embedding things on your Website, do these licenses only apply to Web content?

No, you can use a CC license for any copyrightable work — whether it's online or off. This includes your videos, the composition itself (not just the recording), your album's cover art, sheet music, photographs, your Website, your blog and your writing. It's not just for music.

Can you name some of the other high-profile musicians who use CC licenses?

We've worked with all kinds of artists. Beastie Boys, Deerhoof, Dangermouse, Pearl Jam, Girl Talk and T-Pain are just a few that use CC licenses.

How do you think Creative Commons and copyright fits into this new music industry?

We're in a transition period. And I think that an approach like a CC license can be a critical part of the new music industry because it puts the artist in control to permit which rights they want to grant and which rights they want to keep. I think you'll have more luck getting people involved with your music if you're clear about what you want them to be able to do and tell them how you want to be attributed. This clarity will be integral to the relationship between people who consume and listen to music and people who create and publish it.

Randy Chertkow and Jason Feehan are authors of The Indie Band Survival Guide: The Complete Manual for the Do-It-Yourself Musician, The D.I.Y. Music Manual and founders of the open and free musician resource, IndieGuide.com (www.IndieGuide.com).