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. Document from Lulu

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

02.29.08
thumbnail of document
MEMORANDUM
An American Celebration
pdf
01.18.08
thumbnail of document
OFFER
Grant offer of $50,000 for Commons.
pdf
11.26.06
thumbnail of document
PETITION
Letter to Members of Congress Regarding the "Situation."
pdf
06.05.06
thumbnail of document
NOTICE
Notice of OIG Audit of Excessive Compensation
pdf
05.09.06
thumbnail of document
JUSTIFICATION
From the Regents to the Congress
pdf
04.27.06
thumbnail of document
CONCERN EXPRESSED
Dear Secretary Small
pdf
04.27.06
thumbnail of document
REASSURANCES
Dear Mr. Malamud - It's most unfortunate!
pdf
04.26.06
thumbnail of document
NOTICE
Notice of Intent to Respond At Some Point. Maybe.
pdf
04.17.06
thumbnail of document
VOX POPULI
Dear Secretary Small - Expression of Deep Concern!
pdf
04.04.06
thumbnail of document
FOIA
To the Intent and Spirit Officer
pdf

TRACKBACK—Boing Boing

the seal icon
the seal icon
Smithsonian copyright-free images on Flickr — Boing Boing June 19, 2008
the seal icon
Smithsonian images join the Commons — Boing Boing April 16, 2008
the seal icon
the seal icon
More scandals surface inside Smithsonian — Boing Boing December 28, 2007
the seal icon
the seal icon
the seal icon
the seal icon
the seal icon
the seal icon
the seal icon
the seal icon
the seal icon
the seal icon

TRACKBACK—Washington Post

the seal icon
the seal icon
Museum Ousts Gary Beer For Excess Expenses — Washington Post August 2, 2007
the seal icon
Small Intervened in Smithsonian Insurance — Washington Post June 26, 2007
the seal icon
Secrecy Pervaded Smithsonian on Small's Watch — Washington Post June 21, 2007
the seal icon
Museum's Deputy Secretary Resigns — Washington Post June 19, 2007
the seal icon
the seal icon
the seal icon
Small's House Rarely Used For Business — Washington Post April 19, 2007
the seal icon
the seal icon
the seal icon
Smithsonian's Small Quits in Wake of Inquiry — Washington Post March 27, 2007
the seal icon
Senate Pushes for Smithsonian Reform — Washington Post March 23, 2007
the seal icon
Former IG Says Small Asked Her To Drop Audit — Washington Post March 20, 2007
the seal icon
Smithsonian Documents Detail Chief's Expenses — Washington Post March 19, 2007
the seal icon
Report Scrutinizes Smithsonian Salaries — Washington Post January 31, 2007
the seal icon
Smithsonian Deal With Showtime Passes Muster — Washington Post December 16, 2006
the seal icon
the seal icon
the seal icon
The Nation's Attic, Underpriced — Washington Post June 10, 2006
the seal icon
the seal icon
Smithsonian Hands Over TV Contract — Washington Post May 26, 2006
the seal icon
the seal icon
the seal icon
Smithsonian TV Contract Spurs Panel To Cut Funds — Washington Post May 5, 2006
the seal icon
Capitol Hill Joins Criticism of Smithsonian Film Deal — Washington Post April 29, 2006
the seal icon
Historians Protest Smithsonian's Deals — Washington Post April 26, 2006
the seal icon
the seal icon
Ken Burns Gives Voice to Filmmakers' Concerns — Washington Post April 19, 2006
the seal icon
the seal icon
the seal icon
Logo of Public Resource: The Great Seal of the Seal of Approval