Press releases/Public domain day: Difference between revisions

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== Wikipedia celebrates Public Domain Day on 1st January ==
{{notice|This press release is currently a draft; it has not yet been released.}}
{{notice|This press release is currently a draft; it has not yet been released.}}


''What do [[:wikipedia:Howard Carter|Howard Carter]], discoverer of the famed tomb of King Tutankhamen, novelist [[:wikipedia:Ford Madox Ford|Ford Madox Ford]], and sexologist [[:wikipedia:Havelock Ellis|Havelock Ellis]] all share in common? They all died in 1939. On New Year's Day 2010 all their works enter the [[:wikipedia:public domain|public domain]] in the UK and become free for any use.''
'''''What do [[:wikipedia:Howard Carter|Howard Carter]], discoverer of the famed tomb of King Tutankhamen, novelist [[:wikipedia:Ford Madox Ford|Ford Madox Ford]], and sexologist [[:wikipedia:Havelock Ellis|Havelock Ellis]] all share in common? They all died in 1939. On New Year's Day 2010 all their works enter the [[:wikipedia:public domain|public domain]] in the UK and become free for any use.'''''
 
Each year the opening of Public Records in Britain is a well-publicised event; the press pore over interesting items replacing decades-old speculation with facts. There is a lesser-known addition to Britain's cultural commons; all authors and artists who died seventy years ago have their work freed of copyright restrictions. In the digital age, their works can be re-used and adapted in many more ways: Images can be reused and stories retold. Text can be freely downloaded to e-book readers, a best selling item this Christmas; and anyone can create audio versions.


Each year the opening of Public Records in Britain is a well-publicised event; the press pore over interesting items replacing decades-old speculation with facts. There is a lesser-known addition to Britain's cultural commons; all authors and artists who died seventy years ago have their work freed of any copyright restrictions. In the Internet age, their works can now be used any way people can conceive. Text can be freely downloaded to e-book readers, a rising electronic item; and anyone can create audio versions.
Creative work in the public domain is the backbone of our rich cultural heritage. Nursery rhymes are adapted for modern themes, fairy tales turned into Hollywood blockbusters and hymns reprinted for church congregations to sing. The addition of new creative works to this heritage renews and reinvigorates our culture.


Wikimedia UK anticipates January 1, "Public Domain Day", 2010 being a great year for additions to the Wikimedia digital Commons. The poetry of [[:wikipedia:W. B. Yeats|W. B. Yeats]], the works of [[:wikipedia:Sigmund Freud|Sigmund Freud]], and [[:wikipedia:Arthur Rackham|Arthur Rackham]]'s classic children's book illustrations all enter the public domain. When the complexities of copyright no longer encumber reuse of old works, a work that has been a "sleeper" can become a new classic. Perhaps the definitive example of this is "[[wikipedia:It's a Wonderful Life|It's a Wonderful Life]]", the 1946 Frank Capra film that became a Christmas classic in the 1980s.
Wikimedia UK anticipates January 1, "Public Domain Day", 2010 being a great year for additions to the Wikimedia digital Commons. The poetry of [[:wikipedia:W. B. Yeats|W. B. Yeats]], the works of [[:wikipedia:Sigmund Freud|Sigmund Freud]], and [[:wikipedia:Arthur Rackham|Arthur Rackham]]'s classic children's book illustrations all enter the public domain. When the complexities of copyright no longer encumber reuse of old works, a work that has been a "sleeper" can become a new classic. Perhaps the definitive example of this is "[[wikipedia:It's a Wonderful Life|It's a Wonderful Life]]", the 1946 Frank Capra film that became a Christmas classic in the 1980s.


Wikimedia UK actively promotes the uploading of copyright-free text to Wikisource, a complementary site to Wikipedia. Audio recordings of public domain works may be added to the Wikimedia Commons site, and Wikimedia UK invites you to join us and help digitise and preserve our common cultural heritage. You can make it available for everyone to share, build on, and simply enjoy.
Wikimedia UK promotes the uploading of copyright-free text to Wikisource, a sister site to Wikipedia, so that it can be widely enjoyed. Audio recordings of public domain works may be added to the Wikimedia Commons site, and Wikimedia UK invites you to join us and help digitise and preserve our common cultural heritage. You can make it available for everyone to share, build on, and simply enjoy.


'''EDITORS' NOTES'''
'''EDITORS' NOTES'''
;''Copyright law:''
Please note that Wikimedia UK do not give legal advice. Information on copyright law and public domain can be found in the [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/Ukpga_19880048_en_1.htm Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988] as amended by the [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1995/Uksi_19953297_en_3.htm#mdiv5 The Duration of Copyright and Rights in Performances Regulations 1995].
;''About Wikipedia:''
Wikipedia is the fifth most popular website with 345 million visitors worldwide. Regularly read by 40% of UK web users, it is operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, a US charity. Wikipedia is collaboratively written by approximately 100,000 active volunteers world wide and all material is published under a free license.


;''About Wikisource:''
;''About Wikisource:''
Line 15: Line 28:


;''About Wikimedia Commons:''
;''About Wikimedia Commons:''
Wikimedia Commons is a free image and media file repository, and is another sister project to Wikipedia. It was started on 7 September 2004.
Wikimedia Commons is a free image and media file repository, and is another sister project to Wikipedia. It was started on 7 September 2004 and currently hosts more than 5 million images. UK works are accepted if they are released by the copyright owners under an eligible free license or if they are in the public domain under both US and UK law.


;''About Wikimedia UK:''
;''About the Wikimedia Foundation:''


Wikimedia UK is an independent organisation that supports free and open knowledge throughout the United Kingdom, including promoting and supporting the projects of the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation.
The Wikimedia Foundation Inc. is the US-based non-profit organisation that operates some of the largest collaboratively-edited reference projects in the world. These include Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.


;''About the Wikimedia Foundation:''
;''About Wikimedia UK:''


The Wikimedia Foundation Inc. is the US-based non-profit organisation that operates some of the largest collaboratively-edited reference projects in the world. These include Wikipedia, one of the world's 10 most-visited websites, and Wikimedia Commons.
Wikimedia UK is an independent organisation that supports free and open knowledge throughout the United Kingdom, including promoting and supporting Wikipedia and its sister projects.


;''Further information:''
;''Further information:''
Line 36: Line 49:
Andrew Turvey, Secretary, Wikimedia UK
Andrew Turvey, Secretary, Wikimedia UK
* Email: secretary@wikimedia.org.uk
* Email: secretary@wikimedia.org.uk
* Phone: +44 (0)7988 013 646
* Phone: +44 (0)7754 881 562


[[Category:Press releases|03]]
[[Category:Press releases|03]]

Revision as of 15:23, 30 December 2009

Wikipedia celebrates Public Domain Day on 1st January

Comment This press release is currently a draft; it has not yet been released.

What do Howard Carter, discoverer of the famed tomb of King Tutankhamen, novelist Ford Madox Ford, and sexologist Havelock Ellis all share in common? They all died in 1939. On New Year's Day 2010 all their works enter the public domain in the UK and become free for any use.

Each year the opening of Public Records in Britain is a well-publicised event; the press pore over interesting items replacing decades-old speculation with facts. There is a lesser-known addition to Britain's cultural commons; all authors and artists who died seventy years ago have their work freed of copyright restrictions. In the digital age, their works can be re-used and adapted in many more ways: Images can be reused and stories retold. Text can be freely downloaded to e-book readers, a best selling item this Christmas; and anyone can create audio versions.

Creative work in the public domain is the backbone of our rich cultural heritage. Nursery rhymes are adapted for modern themes, fairy tales turned into Hollywood blockbusters and hymns reprinted for church congregations to sing. The addition of new creative works to this heritage renews and reinvigorates our culture.

Wikimedia UK anticipates January 1, "Public Domain Day", 2010 being a great year for additions to the Wikimedia digital Commons. The poetry of W. B. Yeats, the works of Sigmund Freud, and Arthur Rackham's classic children's book illustrations all enter the public domain. When the complexities of copyright no longer encumber reuse of old works, a work that has been a "sleeper" can become a new classic. Perhaps the definitive example of this is "It's a Wonderful Life", the 1946 Frank Capra film that became a Christmas classic in the 1980s.

Wikimedia UK promotes the uploading of copyright-free text to Wikisource, a sister site to Wikipedia, so that it can be widely enjoyed. Audio recordings of public domain works may be added to the Wikimedia Commons site, and Wikimedia UK invites you to join us and help digitise and preserve our common cultural heritage. You can make it available for everyone to share, build on, and simply enjoy.

EDITORS' NOTES

Copyright law:

Please note that Wikimedia UK do not give legal advice. Information on copyright law and public domain can be found in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 as amended by the The Duration of Copyright and Rights in Performances Regulations 1995.

About Wikipedia:

Wikipedia is the fifth most popular website with 345 million visitors worldwide. Regularly read by 40% of UK web users, it is operated by the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc, a US charity. Wikipedia is collaboratively written by approximately 100,000 active volunteers world wide and all material is published under a free license.

About Wikisource:

Wikisource is a repository of free texts (literary, reference and general), and is a sister project to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. It was started on 24 November 2003, and is operated by the Wikimedia Foundation.

About Wikimedia Commons:

Wikimedia Commons is a free image and media file repository, and is another sister project to Wikipedia. It was started on 7 September 2004 and currently hosts more than 5 million images. UK works are accepted if they are released by the copyright owners under an eligible free license or if they are in the public domain under both US and UK law.

About the Wikimedia Foundation:

The Wikimedia Foundation Inc. is the US-based non-profit organisation that operates some of the largest collaboratively-edited reference projects in the world. These include Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.

About Wikimedia UK:

Wikimedia UK is an independent organisation that supports free and open knowledge throughout the United Kingdom, including promoting and supporting Wikipedia and its sister projects.

Further information:
Contact details:

Michael Peel, Chair, Wikimedia UK

  • Email: michael.peel@wikimedia.org.uk
  • Phone: +44 (0)7988 013 646

Andrew Turvey, Secretary, Wikimedia UK

  • Email: secretary@wikimedia.org.uk
  • Phone: +44 (0)7754 881 562
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