ShareAlike

Definition

ShareAlike is a copyright license condition that requires derivative works to be distributed under the same or a compatible license as the original work. It is a key component of certain alternative forms of copyright, such as Creative Commons licenses, that aim to promote the sharing and reuse of creative content.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The ShareAlike condition ensures that if someone modifies or builds upon a work licensed under a ShareAlike license, the new creation must be distributed under the same or a compatible license, preserving the open and collaborative nature of the original work.
2. ShareAlike is a key feature of Creative Commons licenses, such as CC BY-SA (Attribution-ShareAlike), which allows others to remix, transform, and build upon a work as long as they credit the original creator and distribute the new creation under the same license.
3. The ShareAlike condition is often compared to the concept of 'copyleft,' which is a play on the term 'copyright' and is used to describe licenses that require derivative works to be released under the same or a compatible license.
4. ShareAlike licenses are commonly used in the open-source software community, where developers contribute code to projects with the understanding that any modifications or improvements will be shared back with the community under the same open-source license.
5. The ShareAlike condition promotes the ongoing sharing and collaborative development of creative works, as it ensures that the original work and its derivatives remain freely available for others to build upon and share.

Review Questions

• Explain the purpose and significance of the ShareAlike condition in the context of alternative forms of copyright.
  • The ShareAlike condition is a key feature of alternative copyright frameworks, such as Creative Commons licenses, that aim to promote the sharing and collaborative development of creative works. It requires that any derivative works or modifications of the original work be distributed under the same or a compatible license, ensuring that the open and collaborative nature of the work is preserved. This helps to foster an environment of ongoing sharing and reuse, where creators can build upon each other's work and contribute back to the commons, rather than restricting the use and distribution of the work through traditional copyright.
• Analyze the relationship between ShareAlike and the concept of 'copyleft' in the context of open-source software development.
  • The ShareAlike condition is closely related to the concept of 'copyleft,' which is a play on the term 'copyright' and is used to describe licenses that require derivative works to be released under the same or a compatible license. In the open-source software community, ShareAlike licenses, such as the GNU General Public License (GPL), are commonly used to ensure that any modifications or improvements to the original software code are shared back with the community under the same open-source license. This promotes the ongoing collaborative development of the software, as developers can freely build upon and contribute to the project, knowing that their contributions will also be made available to others under the same open terms.
• Evaluate the potential impact of the ShareAlike condition on the broader ecosystem of creative works and its implications for the public domain.
  • The ShareAlike condition has the potential to significantly impact the broader ecosystem of creative works by encouraging the ongoing sharing and collaborative development of content. By requiring that derivative works be distributed under the same or a compatible license, the ShareAlike condition helps to maintain the open and accessible nature of the original work, preventing it from being locked away or restricted by traditional copyright. This can lead to a richer, more diverse public domain, where creators can freely build upon and remix existing works, fostering innovation and creativity. However, the ShareAlike condition may also raise concerns about the potential limitations on commercial exploitation or the ability to maintain control over derivative works, which must be carefully balanced against the benefits of promoting a more open and collaborative creative landscape.

Related terms

Creative Commons:

A nonprofit organization that provides free, easy-to-use copyright licenses that allow creators to share their work with the public on certain conditions, including ShareAlike.

Copyleft:

A general method for making a program or other work free and requiring all modified and extended versions of the program to be free as well.

Open-Source Software: Software with source code that anyone can inspect, modify, and enhance, often distributed under licenses that require derivative works to be released under the same or a compatible license.