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“With new business models, businesses can increase their profits from sharing with Creative Commons.”
“By illustrating the financial potential, Creative Commons’ advocates can help increase the number of people using the license.”
Sharing knowledge does not impoverish the giver, in fact sharing knowledge, culture, and information is not only good for the receiver but it also nurtures creativity, innovation, and helps solve a host of global problems. Creative Commons provides an easy template to do just that.
This is what makes people appreciate and love creative commons. There are many who like Creative Commons for its progressive and idealistic perspective, but there also is a sound business perspective to it.
There are some business models where it is possible to make more money using Creative Commons license. Bringing this perspective to the fore and highlighting it will help spread Creative Commons and make businesses aware of its immense potential.
Examples:
Flat world knowledge produces college textbooks that can be read freely on their website under a creative commons license. This, however, does not stop them from making money. They make money by selling complimentary products such as physical books, audio books and study guides. (read the complete case study)
Another great example is that of Nine Inch Nails. They released the album Ghosts I – IV under a creative commons license. The main 8 tracks could be downloaded directly from their website and the rest from bit torrent and other similar sources. They managed to make money by selling paid downloads and a range of deluxe editions. (See the entire Case Study)
Some more interesting examples of business models based on free sharing can be found here. (Not all are based on Creative commons; however, the underlying principle remains the same)
Next steps:
Businesses:
If you are a business and want to examine the possibilities of making profit from using Creative Commons there are several tools on this page that can help you. On the Tools and cases page you can get a complete overview of these. (Although not all are directly based on Creative Commons, the underlying principle is the same)
Creative commons fans:
If you are a fan of Creative Commons and wish to promote the idea as much as possible then you can do so by illustrating to businesses how they can benefit financially from doing so. You may use the cases in this blog and talk about it or recommend them for further reading.
Business model for a better world Ebook
For a brief introduction to freemium, you can also download the “A Business Model for a Better World” ebook.
