An earlier draft of an e-Learning Activity for the OERu course on Regional Relations in Asia and the Pacific linked to an image of Lapita pottery<http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/pacific-migrations/3/1>. Rather than link to the image, as a learning stimulus I wanted to reuse the image within the text of the e-Learning activity.
However, this was not possible because the image was all-tights reserved :-(. After searching the web, I was unable to find an openly licensed replacement image. Consequently, I sent an email to the copyright holder requesting permission to re-license the image under a CC-BY or CC-BY-SA license for use in our OERu course. The copyright holder refused permission to re-license the image under an open content license, but provided the option for us to purchase a license for the rights for a single inclusion at US$150. I refused the offer. This is an example of the tragedy of the commons in a digital age. Lapita pottery are artifacts which are more than 3000 years old and should be in the public domain. It is a tragedy when publicly funded institutions use the copyright of the photographs of artifacts in public domain to restrict access to learning. This is an unfortunate example where photographs are used to appropriate the public domain. Our story has a happy ending. Further searches revealed that Prof Patrick Nunn, the former Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) at the University of the South Pacific directed an excavation of a Lapita site in Fiji during 2007 - 2008. As USP is one of our anchor partners, I contacted the University and Theresa Koroivulaono assisted me in making contact with Patrick Nunn who is now based at the University of New England in Australia. Patrick has provided us with a great collection of images and supporting text which he has gladly re-licensed under an open content license. Check out our new e-Learning Activity with the stimulus photograph<http://wikieducator.org/AST1000/Historical_overview/e-Learning_activity_-_Overview_of_historical_events_and_issues> and a fascinating read <http://wikieducator.org/Bourewa_Lapita_excavations> of early history of the Pacific region -- (with photos of course ;-)). Kudos to Prof Patrick Nunn who has willingly shared knowledge freely for the benefit of future OERu learners! My faith in the academy is restored once again. -- Wayne Mackintosh <http://wikieducator.org/User:Mackiwg>, Ph.D. Director OER Foundation <http://www.oerfoundation.org> Director, International Centre for Open Education, Otago Polytechnic Commonwealth of Learning Chair in OER, Otago Polytechnic Founder and elected Community Council Member, WikiEducator<http://www.wikieducator.org> Mobile +64 21 2436 380 Skype: WGMNZ1 Twitter <http://twitter.com/#%21/Mackiwg> | identi.ca<http://identi.ca/waynemackintosh> Wikiblog <http://wikieducator.org/User:Mackiwg/Blog> -- -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "WikiEducator" group. To visit wikieducator: http://www.wikieducator.org To visit the discussion forum: http://groups.google.com/group/wikieducator To post to this group, send email to wikieducator@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to wikieducator+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
