6,288 Photographs
Are Smithsonian Images Public Domain?
In a Memorandum to the Internet
we posited the theory that the SmithsonianImages.Com site was artificially restricting the
public domain by asserting copyright on images they did not own. Indeed, the whole point
of the public domain is you don't have to ask for permission, yet the Institution had
required each and every use to be vetted.
Since careful examination yielded substantial evidence that the images were indeed in the public domain, they were harvested and uploaded to Flickr, which managed to attract the attention of the relevant authorities.
[View 6,288 Images on Flickr]
[View the Smithsonian's New PD Photostream]
PAPER TRAIL
TRACKBACK—Boing Boing
Smithsonian Library staff assist with Flickr project — SPARC June 16, 2008
Smithsonian copyright-free images on Flickr — Boing Boing June 19, 2008
Smithsonian images join the Commons — Boing Boing April 16, 2008
Can the Smithsonian's public domain images join the Library of Congress's "Commons"? — Boing Boing January 19, 2008
More scandals surface inside Smithsonian — Boing Boing December 28, 2007
Smithsonian images gets open copyright religion — Boing Boing August 3, 2007
Smithsonian images migrated to Flickr for fair-er use — Boing Boing October 18, 1992
Architect of Smithsonian/Showtime sellout quits in disgrace — Boing Boing March 27, 2007
Smithsonian lobbies to preserve its Showtime sellout — Boing Boing November 20, 2006
Lawmakers slap Smithsonian over Showtime sellout deal — Boing Boing May 4, 2006
Smithsonian's sellout to Showtime slammed by Congress — Boing Boing April 29, 2006
Hundreds ask Smithsonian not to sell out to Showtime — Boing Boing April 17, 2006
Smithsonian's Showtime deal: critical attorneys shred it — Boing Boing April 7, 2006
Smithsonian's Showtime sellout needs FOIA sunshine — Boing Boing April 5, 2006
Smithsonian becomes Showtime's exclusive first-refusal archive — Boing Boing April 4, 2006
TRACKBACK—Washington Post
Smithsonian Channel To Make Its Debut, But Only on DirecTV — Washington Post September 24, 2007
Museum Ousts Gary Beer For Excess Expenses — Washington Post August 2, 2007
Small Intervened in Smithsonian Insurance — Washington Post June 26, 2007
Secrecy Pervaded Smithsonian on Small's Watch — Washington Post June 21, 2007
Museum's Deputy Secretary Resigns — Washington Post June 19, 2007
With Budget Cuts, House Panel Scolds Troubled Smithsonian — Washington Post May 24, 2007
Controversial CEO to Leave Smithsonian Business Ventures — Washington Post May 17, 2007
Small's House Rarely Used For Business — Washington Post April 19, 2007
Smithsonian Termed 'Endangered'; Board's Structure Questioned — Washington Post April 12, 2007
Smithsonian Officials Serve On Board Of Its Insurer — Washington Post April 11, 2007
Smithsonian's Small Quits in Wake of Inquiry — Washington Post March 27, 2007
Senate Pushes for Smithsonian Reform — Washington Post March 23, 2007
Former IG Says Small Asked Her To Drop Audit — Washington Post March 20, 2007
Smithsonian Documents Detail Chief's Expenses — Washington Post March 19, 2007
Report Scrutinizes Smithsonian Salaries — Washington Post January 31, 2007
Smithsonian Deal With Showtime Passes Muster — Washington Post December 16, 2006
Spreading the Wealth; It's Time for the Smithsonian to Use Television — Washington Post June 18, 2006
GOP's Grassley Faults Small's Smithsonian Stewardship — Washington Post June 10, 2006
The Nation's Attic, Underpriced — Washington Post June 10, 2006
Smithsonian Inspector General Resigns, Cites Office Cutbacks — Washington Post June 6, 2006
Smithsonian Hands Over TV Contract — Washington Post May 26, 2006
Small Linked To Scandal at Fannie Mae; Smithsonian Secretary's Role Is Scrutinized — Washington Post May 25, 2006
Smithsonian Deal Was Not Made in Secret, Small Says — Washington Post May 9, 2006
Smithsonian TV Contract Spurs Panel To Cut Funds — Washington Post May 5, 2006
Capitol Hill Joins Criticism of Smithsonian Film Deal — Washington Post April 29, 2006
Historians Protest Smithsonian's Deals — Washington Post April 26, 2006
The Nation's Attic; Secret contracts, soaring salaries — Washington Post April 24, 2006
Ken Burns Gives Voice to Filmmakers' Concerns — Washington Post April 19, 2006
Smithsonian Investigating Its Sales Division's Salaries — Washington Post April 19, 2006
End Smithsonian-Showtime Deal, Filmmakers and Historians Ask — Washington Post April 18, 2006
Smithsonian Deal With Showtime Restricts Access By Filmmakers — Washington Post April 4, 2006
