Global Network Strategy Consultation

Why we are here● CC 15th Anniversary: Moment to celebrate, reflect, and plan for the future of the movement

● Evaluation of current network: 100+ affiliates in 80+ countries

○ Mostly built upon old MOUs, focused on agreements for license translation and porting

● Network needs to grown and include new voices to meet our vision and goals as a movement

● Opportunity to think seriously about the network we have and what the movement urgently

needs

● Proposal: Build on our common values and principles; evolve the network to ensure we have what

we need to accomplish CC’s mission

Background: Why we are here

Background● Goal: A community-led process and strategy to analyze, revitalize and grow the CC network

● Plan:

○ Review existing network structure and composition

○ Identify opportunities for growth and improvement

○ Propose a new structure to meet current and future needs

● Team: Global Network Strategy Steering Committee

○ 20 contributors from across the affiliate network, representing all regions, including 3 regional

co-ordinators

○ Co-chaired by CC CEO Ryan Merkley and CC Poland Alek Tarkowski

Process● Oct 2015: CC Day Zero in Seoul, South Korea

○ Affiliates recommended review and process to strengthen the network

● April 2016: CC HQ asked for volunteers from the network to lead review process

● May 2016, Washington DC: First in-person committee meeting

○ Identify issues and plan research and strategy development process

● Summer 2016: Independent researchers conducted interviews with teams in all regions

○ Produced 300-page “Faces of the Commons” report identifying issues and opportunities

○ Reports shared openly with community; translated to Spanish, Arabic, French

Process (continued)● Nov 2016: Second in-person committee meeting

○ Review research insights, make recommendations, develop strategy framework

● Dec 2016: Committee drafted recommendations; finalized and translated documents

● Jan 2017: Consultation began

● Mar 24, 2017: Consultation ends; committee to review and make revisions as required

● April 28-30, 2017: CC Summit in Toronto, Canada

○ Community endorsement of final approved strategy

Issues and Insights

Issues and Insights

● MOU structure was designed for license porting

● Today’s CC movement works in many more areas, like policy, advocacy, open education, open

access, and more

● Affiliate structure limits membership to MOU signatories

○ Makes it difficult to recruit and retain new contributors

Issues and Insights

● Regional Co-ordinator structure isn’t serving the network or CC HQ

○ Communication: Information not getting through, HQ not getting information, teams not

communicating/collaborating

○ Missed opportunities: Resources left unused, potential contributors unable to get involved,

local teams not supported as needed

● Affiliate members often feel isolated and are working very hard without much support

○ A few people are carrying a lot of the work; Teams and individuals feel burnt out, and need

more resources for their everyday work

Issues and Insights

● There is a strong desire to work on shared projects and set shared goals

○ Need better structure to provide support and collaboration

● New network activities require more coordination, shared decision-making, and adequate

resourcing to have impact

Issues and Insights

● CC network needs opportunity to set its priorities

○ Take a leadership role in growing and supporting new and existing teams

○ Building consensus for policies and collective actions

● CC HQ has unique core functional roles (e.g., brand and trademark, license infrastructure, legal

entity and requirements), and is also a key contributor and leader in the movement with its own

staff and strategy

Creative CommonsGlobal Network Model

One vision, two mission statements

CC movement and CC HQ organization share a common vision:

“Our vision for the Creative Commons Global Network is nothing less than realizing the full potential of the Internet — universal access to research and education, full participation in culture — to drive a new

era of development, growth, and productivity.”

One vision, two mission statements

However, the CC movement should have a broader mission statement to guide its work:

“The mission of the Creative Commons Global Network is to build a global commons of creativity and knowledge, and grow a movement that advocates, promotes and enables openness and sharing around

the world.”

Overview

Overview

● New governance and decision-making model

○ Global Network Council with representation from each country

○ Sub-committees to manage work of the Council

● New membership model for governance: No more affiliates

○ Any individual contributor can become a member

○ Organizations can join as Network Partners, but can’t vote

■ Organization staff can of course join as individual members

Overview

● Members and Partners organized under Country Teams

○ Select a public lead to co-ordinate country-level activities

○ Elect a Global Network Council representative for global governance work

○ Country teams work together to set national level priorities and positions

● Membership only required to participate in governance

○ Anyone can contribute to the activities of the movement regardless of affiliation

CC Global Network Council

CCGNC: Core Functions

● Coordinate the activities of the most active contributors of the movement (both individuals and

organizations)

● Provide a structure of representation for Country Teams at global level

● Collaboratively define movement strategy and provide stewardship for the CC licenses

CCGNC: Core Functions

● Defined areas of activity or work programs (Platforms)

● Grow, evaluate and improve the network

● Advise and build consensus on global CC positions, strategy, network resource allocation

● Participate in global fundraising efforts

Membership

● Any individual can apply to become a Network Member, approved by CCGN

● Organizations can apply to become Network Partners

● Network Members and Partners will endorse a Global Network Charter

● Network Members and Partners can speak on behalf of their country teams as

CC on Platform topics

● Membership is renewed every 2 years

Country teams

● Open to all Network Members and Partners working in that country

● Network Members or Partners will only be affiliated with one Country Team at

a time. This does not exclude them from projects in other countries

● Each Country Team sends one representative to the Global Network Council

● Each Country Team will select an individual (similar to Public Lead) to be

responsible for coordinating and communicating Country Team activities

Country team activities

● Run activities and provide support to local projects

● Serve as a contact and information point for questions about CC

● Represent the CCGN to national and local governments and organisations

● Maintain and update a country-specific website on xx.creativecommons.org

● Establish Country Team consensus on national positions related to the CCGN

● Report on accomplishments to the Global Network Council

● Elect a representative to the Global Network Council

Role of CC HQ in the Network

Role of CC HQ in the Network

● CC HQ remains a distinct organisational entity with special responsibilities

○ Works as an active and collaborative member of the movement

○ Participates in the CCGN

○ Supports and facilitates the CCGN

CC HQ Responsibilities

● Administrative and organisational support for the GNC and its subcommittees

● Support and manage Platform Coordinators for CCGN’s Platforms

● Co-organize Global Summits with the GNC

● Consult on further development of legal tools with the GNC

CC HQ Responsibilities

● Provide communication tools for internal and external communication

○ e.g., Website, Wiki, mailing lists, IRC, Slack

● Consults the GNC as part of its own strategic planning

● Manages the global trademark and brand

● Leads fundraising to support CC HQ and CCGN initiatives in collaboration with

the CCGN

HQ Support and Funding

● The network will collaborate with CC HQ to actively fundraise to support the

continued allocation of these resources

● CC HQ will also provide two kinds of new direct financial support:

○ Activities Fund: Small fund to provide small amounts of resources for

everyday activities

○ Global Initiative Fund for Platform Activities: Funds allocated to projects

within an established Platform, by a grant review committee advising

Areas of Work: Platforms

Areas of Work: Platforms

● Platforms are "defined areas of work", approved by the CCGN

● Platforms can be issue-based, region-based, or function-oriented

○ Issue: Copyright reform, open education, GLAM

○ Region: CC Europe

○ Function: Mentoring and team-building

Areas of Work: Platforms

● Each Platform has an assigned co-ordinator, defined objectives and positions on

key issues

● Approved Platforms eligible to receive project resources from the Global Fund

● Anyone can propose a Platform, but with limited resources, the network will

have to set priorities

● Non-Platform work can always be undertaken by Country Teams, but not as

official CC project

ConsultationJanuary until March 24, 2017