The Library of Congress and Flickr

Posted by Pixelhead

The Library of Congress is doing a pilot program with Flickr, which is called The Commons, and involves having Flickr users go through over 3000 photos from the Library of and tag and make comments. The photos have a unique copyright called “no known copyright restrictions.”

Got some time? Go check out the Library photos, and add some tags,notes, and comments.

Library of Congress profie page on Flickr.
http://www.loc.gov/blog/ Library of Congress Blog(not and official LOC Blog)

Tags: Lirbrary of Congress, Flickr, Photography

Written by Pixelhead on January 22nd, 2008 with comments disabled.
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11 comments

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Stock Trading Software
#1. January 22nd, 2008, at 5:39 PM.

The library of congress trying to turn into a wicki’ish thing lol… very amusing IMO

Snowball
#2. January 22nd, 2008, at 8:21 PM.

Very interesting indeed. But does no know copyright restriction allow all of us to use these photos freely?

Snowball
#3. January 22nd, 2008, at 8:24 PM.

So does that mean we can use the photos freely or must we seek out the copyright restriction that is unknown?

Pixelhead
#4. January 22nd, 2008, at 8:54 PM.

I am not quite sure, but it would seem like the copyright for them would have expired long ago.

Hudson, Ohio
#5. January 23rd, 2008, at 1:33 AM.

Sounds to me like “no known copyright restrictions” means they don’t think there is a copyright, but maybe they are wrong and there actually is a copyright. I would be hesitant to use such images.

Forrest
#6. January 24th, 2008, at 2:40 AM.

This is fantastic! Not just because Flickr ( or the Library of Congress…? ) is becoming popular, or the copyright issue. And I’d go with ‘Hudson’ on that question.

I think propriety is one of the biggest issues facing the IT industry. It makes sense that a person or company who invents something great should benefit from their invention. On the other hand, there’s so much trade secrecy, litigation, and so on that innovation is being restricted. The biggest problem seems to be that virtually anyone who embarks on a project needs to reinvent the wheel.

Collaborative tagging of old photos won’t help anybody write a better spam filter, but it’s a sign of the times. Governments tend to move far more slowly than anyone else in tech, so for the Library of Congress to embrace “user generated content” is a sign we may be on the right track…

Mark from Bloglyne
#7. January 25th, 2008, at 4:06 PM.

This is an interesting idea – Is there a length of time after a photo is a certain number of years old that the copyright becomes public domain?

Pixelhead
#8. January 25th, 2008, at 4:15 PM.

Good question Mark, I am not sure. Something about the year 1923 rings a bell, but I am not exactly sure. From any classes I had in school, I know copyright law is very complicated.

andy
#9. June 28th, 2008, at 3:50 AM.

Very interesting. They sure are fun to look at. Old Photos and history

Tattooed Bride
#10. July 15th, 2008, at 12:11 PM.

The photos look wonderful on Flickr. They have amazing depth to them. I hope the Library of Congress continues to add.

digital fotofremkaldelse
#11. April 1st, 2009, at 11:59 AM.

This is nice blog… Good question Mark, I am not sure. Something about the year 1923 rings a bell, but I am not exactly sure. From any classes I had in school, I know copyright law is very complicated…I think propriety is one of the biggest issues facing the IT industry. It makes sense that a person or company who invents something great should benefit from their invention.