Modfied for Sig Tags -- Creative Commons License

What is Creative Commons and Why do We Need It?

Modified for Sig Tags Creative Commons The world of sig tag makers needs Creative Commons licensing for a variety of reasons. Sig-tags by their nature are derivative work especially if one gives them to others. Those using others' tags need to add their own names at the very least. Also sig-tags often include others' art.

UNLIKE a traditional copyright, Creative Commons permits a variety of uses and only reserves some rights while giving users more freedom with the others. With a Creative Commons license, one can give permission for derivative work, permit noncommercial use only, and ask others to make their work available in the same way as the original sig-tag.

How is the Modified for Sig Tags Creative Commons License Different?

Unfortunately, the good folks at Creative Commons were not thinking of sig-tags when they created their licensing framework. Unlike images used on whole web pages or whole web pages or presentations etc...., sig-tags are different.

  • Sig-tags are small or should be. They are less than 100,000 square pixels (that's about 500px * 200px), often far less. Squeezing an attribution notice on to a sig-tag makes for a cluttered tag. Who wants a cluttered tag?

  • Sig-tags exist mainly in the grey space between private use and actual publishing. Their main home is in personal email, private email lists (such as those hosted on Yahoogroups), password protected web boards, and closed MSN groups.

This effects or should effect how one applies the attribution feature of a Creative Commons license. Attribution is a fancy word for giving credit. With a Modified for Sig Tags Creative Commons License, one need only give credit under certain circumstances where there is adequate space and where use of the sig-tag resembles true publishing.

Here is Eileen H. Kramer's Modified for Sig Tags Creative Commons License

All artwork by Eileen H. Kramer (aka Ruddy Snake) is available under a Modified for Sig Tags Creative Commons License. To learn more about Creative Commons licensing, please click here. This license has the following features:

ATTRIBUTION: For ordinary use, you do not have to provide attribution with any sig-tag or pressie created from my art. You do, however, have to give me credit under the following circumstances. Giving me credit involves mentioning my name, Eileen H. Kramer, and providing a link back to this page.

  • When you make a sig-tag derived from my work or a blank sig tag available as a snag. That means publicly available for others to use and modify.

  • When you put one of my sig-tags or work derived from my artwork, or my artwork itself on a public web page such as your own domain or a Geocities page. This is publishing.

Attribution exists only for one generation. Once the sig-tag is on your page, your recipients must give attribution to you rather than me.

NONCOMMERCIAL: Please do not use any of my art work or sig tags in any commercial work. Commercial work is work that is supposed to earn money.

DERIVATIVE: Derivative use is permitted. That after all is what sig tag creation is all about. Enjoy....

SHARE and SHARE ALIKE: If you use my artwork or sig tags or create any work from either of them, you must offer that work under a Modified for Sig Tags Creative Commons License. This means that the work must

  • Require attribution when offered as a snag or published on a publicly viewable web page, rather than on the work itself. Once the image made from my art work is on your web page or offered as your snag attribution shifts from me to you.
  • Be available for noncommercial use only.
  • Permit derivative work.
  • And inherit the share and share alike license.

Also given the Share and Share Alike provision, you can not display any of my work on a page that is right click protected. Only use my work if you are willing to make it available to others as I have made it available to you.

Please let others know about Modified for Sig Tags Creative Commons Licensing and encourage them to use Creative Commons licensing for their works.

Eileen H. Kramer (aka Ruddy Snake)
August 26, 2006