While hunting down some music, I happened to come across Vicki Lim’s Flickr photostream. Noticed she’s adopted a CC license (Flickr is still at version 2.0) so I emailed her to ask if she could answer a few questions for this blog.
Vicki is a 16-year old student, so far the youngest CC-adopter I know. I’m impressed by her responses to the questions. She showed an understanding of CC that’s ahead of some adults, in my opinion. More about Vicki at the end of this post.
Here’s her verbatim responses:
Q: How did you learn about Creative Commons?
I learnt about Creative Commons through through Flickr under their photo-licensing scheme.
Q: Why did you adopt CC?
I adopted CC as I wanted a way to ensure that I would be given due credit for my hard work if my photos were to be used. I chose the ‘Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs Creative Commons’ as I found it best suited my needs, and also allowing others to download my works and share them with others as long as they mention and link back to me, but they can’t alter my pictures or use them commercially for monetary profits or otherwise.
Q: Did you find that CC has helped you in terms of being a photographer? Or, have you noticed your work being used by other people (e.g. their blogs)?
CC has helped me in terms of being a photographer by helping to protect my intellectual property, and thanks to CC, when people want to use my works, they actually approach me and ask for permission. There are a few sites on which my works are displayed (with permission granted)
www.nowpublic.com/world/first-antarctic-night-vision-flight
www.myspace.com/roslimansor
www.myspace.com/madhattersg
www.terrabox.wordpress.com
and also my school publications, and a few others, which I’ve unfortunately lost track of.
Q: Any other comments about CC?
I find CC to be a very helpful way in which I can share my works with the world, and also as use of a way to help people recognise that they are in fact, mine.
However, the only gripe about it would probably be the fact that despite the fact I have a CC licence, there have also been certain people who use my pictures without crediting, and that irks me to no end as there isn’t exactly a very strong ruling in Singapore that protects my works. Weighing it as a whole though, I find the CC movement to be ingenious and very, very useful.
Q: Can you explain more how you see CC helping you protect your intellectual property rights? Did you experience otherwise before you adopted CC? E.g. no one asked you for permission?
With the widespread influence of the Internet, my pictures in Flickr taken in Singapore have been used in sites all over the world. Most of those I’ve managed to find have credited me, because they know of the CC-licensing scheme, and specifically the CC licence that I’ve chosen.
Before I adopted CC, there were a few individuals that used my pictures without permission and crediting me, but I saw a change in those numbers after adopting CC as most people do know what my CC licence on my pictures permit them to do with the pictures.
And if they don’t, information on the Creative Commons is easily attainable on any search engine (:
Q: Just curious why they would ask you for permission when you’ve adopted a CC license. Permission is already granted in that sense.
I think it’s more of a formality, but it’s a welcome one nonetheless. I like to thank the people who use my pictures personally; and if they tell me who they are, where they’re using it and what for, it saves me the trouble of having to scour the world-wide web for my pictures (;
Q: Do you know of your peers who adopt CC? Or do you consider yourself the minority (i.e. the rest won’t care)?
Photography wise, I only know 2 friends of mine who adopt CC, so yes I’m still largely in the minority. I don’t think it’s really because of nonchalance, it’s more of ignorance (not knowing about CC), and seeing no particular need for licensing their works.
Vicki adds:
Online I go mostly by the alias ‘Vickomaniac’, and my works can be found here at www.flickr.com/photos/vickomaniac . I shoot with a Sony Alpha 700, usually coupled with a Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* 16-80 and a Sony Alpha HVL-58AM flash. I started photography with a DSLR in Mid-08, and I usually prefer to shoot in Black and White as it strips a photo down to the bare necessities and it causes the viewer to imagine it in colours (if they so wish), while ensuring the focus is on the subject.
My favourite photo subjects are people and animals; to be exact: Musicians, Sportspeople and Dogs, which happen to infuse all my personal loves such as Music, Taekwondo, Basketball and of course, the Canines.
As of now, I am extremely honoured to be given the opportunity to be working with Rosli Mansor, Singapore’s first Rock Guitar Instrumentalist as his photographer. After the debut of his first album ‘Dragged’ in January 2007, he is currently working on his second album, and more info about him can be found at www.room354.com and www.myspace.com/roslimansor.
In the future, I hope to be able to experience the beautiful sights and sounds of our diverse planet and chronicle them with the help of my camera, and sharing them with the rest of the world.
Thanks for the email interview, Vicki. I think she’s taking her exams now, so good luck!
Posted by Ivan Chew 
Posted by Ivan Chew 
Posted by Ivan Chew 
