Media, Publications, and Publishing Policies and Workflow
08-11-08 Draft / Will
How does Icarus publish materials? This workflow and policy should help clarify.
Icarus as a broad movement publishes three kinds of materials:
*Outside materials.* These don't represent Icarus' official views but are of interest to Icarus members. These are materials that find their way onto our Forum, Articles section of the site, local group tables and websites, etc. This in general needs to follow our Community Guidelines and have some reason in general for being there related to the purpose of Icarus, but doesn't necessarily reflect Icarus values. It's clear these are outside materials and not official Icarus materials. An example is a newspaper clipping.
*Independent Icarus materials.* These do follow the Icarus mission and vision statements in a general way and are promoted independently by Icarus members or local groups. They receive no special support or funding from the coordinators. An example is a handout produced by an Icarus local, or a local group 'zine. On a case by case basis the Media + Publications group may recommend that independent materials be listed in the Resources section, in blog posts etc. Generally the coordinator and working group structure is not centrally involved with their production. These materials do represent Icarus and follow our mission/vision statement. Like any local group or independent activity by Icarus members, if independent materials don't follow Icarus vision and mission, then it's brought to the coordinators group to discuss. On a case by case basis the coordinators may approve funding or other resources for independent Icarus materials. Generally like all local group projects, Independent materials don't need specific approval, but if there is a complaint or something that a material goes against the Icarus vision or mission then the Media + Publications group will look into it and recommend the Coordinators to make a decision about it.
*In-House Icarus materials.* These are projects that usually receive some resources such as coordinator time and funding and are involved in the coordinator/working group structure for guidance. For example if someone on the forums says "I want to make a handout on yyy," the media + pubications group may see this as a great In-House material and be involved to make sure the quality and values are up to the needs of In House materials. In House materials have to be approved by the Coordinators. They then typically get strong visibility and representation in the Resources section and listings of Icarus materials for distributors and downloading. In-House material then becomes a resource for education and further publishing by all Icarus locals and members.
*Use of Icarus Materials* All Icarus project materials, on the website, forums, and our publications, unless otherwise noted, are licensed under a Creative Commons Atribution, Non-Commercial, Non-Derivative license 2.5. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/.That essentially means that anyone is granted prior permission and does not need to contact us specifically if they want to reproduce the material in any form whatsoever, as long as it is for non-commercial purposes, there is no change, and the source is attributed. This policy promotes the wide dissemination of our ideas and empowers individuals to distribute and promote in their community. Other uses are not out of the question but require prior permission.
Local groups and authors can make other arrangements for their materials, but in general inclusion on the website / icarus materials is conditional on embracing this license. This license however extends to use by Icarus specifically and does not preclude other licensing. For example, someone could write a song and post it to their blog on the Icarus site. Another person could post that same song to their non-commercial activist group website (as long as they didn't change it and gave full source attribution). The songwriter could then turn around and sell the song to a commercial site or put it on their album for sale.