Declaration on libre knowledge

This is the discussion venue for the Libre Knowledge Declaration previously hosted by libre.org.

Libre Declaration

Vision

Knowledge for all, freedom to learn, towards collective wisdom.

Enabling communities to empower themselves with knowledge.

Libre Knowledge Definition

Libre Knowledge (aka free knowledge) can be acquired, interpreted and applied freely, it can be re-formulated according to one's needs, and shared with others for community benefit. In today's world, where knowledge may be captured and shared electronically, this freedom is not automatically preserved, and we elaborate this definition for explicit knowledge:

(explicit) Libre Knowledge is knowledge released in such a way that users are free to read, listen to, watch, or otherwise experience it; to learn from or with it; to copy, adapt and use it for any purpose; and to share the work (unchanged or modified) for the benefit of the community.

Representations of libre knowledge must be conveniently accessible for modification and sharing. For example, accessible, editable and deployable using libre software and libre file formats.

"Explicit knowledge" is knowledge captured on some medium, usually in a form representable on a computer (e.g. text, sound, video, animation, executable program, etc.).

Users of libre knowledge are free to

(0) use the work for any purpose

(1) study its mechanisms, to be able to modify and adapt it to their own needs

(2) make and distribute copies, in whole or in part

(3) enhance and/or extend the work and share the result.

A knowledge resource may be considered libre if users have all of these freedoms.

Freedoms 1 and 3 require the resource to be in a libre file format and be fully editable and deployable with libre software as defined by the Free Software Foundation.

Libre Resources (definition)

The term "libre resources" refers to digital resources - files in a free file format containing (e.g.) text, an image, sound, multimedia, etc. accessible with free software, and released under a licence which grants the users the freedom to access, read, listen to, watch, or otherwise experience the resource; to learn with, copy, perform, adapt and use it for any purpose; and to contribute and share enhancements or derived works.

Such resources are central to movements associated with Free software, free culture, and free knowledge, etc., and are used by libre communities for learning and knowledge generation.

Knowledge

We use the term "knowledge" to cover data (symbols), information (processed data revealing meaning), knowledge (know-how), ideas, understanding, etc. and extend our vision to collective wisdom. Knowledge may be factual and objective, personal (gained through study or experience), socially constructed, indigenous and culturally rooted, common, scientific, scholarly or non-academic. Knowledge may be represented and expressed in digital form (see "libre resources" above), in physical form, or as cultural traditions (oral, dance, song, etc.).

Manifesto

Libre Communities value:

• the members and their diverse perspectives,
• the libre resources produced and the associated freedoms (above),
• the ability of communities to collaborate on managing the quality of shared resources, and
• the opportunity this freedom offers for networked communities to make a difference collectively, towards a sustainable world.

Free as in freedom and free speech: see free software.

Declaration on Libre Knowledge

1. We declare our common understanding of the importance of Libre Knowledge for all towards equitable and sustainable global development and commit to promoting and adopting libre knowledge in our endeavours.
2. Libre knowledge is underpinned by a philosophy indicating that knowledge is inherently libre, and that access to knowledge and the freedom to adapt and use it is a basic human right.
3. We recognise that libre knowledge requires free software for its creation, access, adaptation, and sharing, and we commit to using, promoting and developing free software or solutions based on free software, for these purposes.
4. In the modern digital age, effective sharing of libre knowledge requires free file formats and free standards for data, information and knowledge exchange to enable accessibility, collaborative knowledge generation, interoperability, transparency, adaptability of the knowledge, contribution, and libre licensing.
5. Libre knowledge covers the whole collaborative value chain from raw data collection to informed, knowledgeable and wise decision making, including the shared knowledge of people involved in the process.
6. In the “developing” world, libre knowledge resources are essential to enable and permit communities to adapt and enhance the resources for effective local use, and to be free to share the results to help their neighbours and communities.
7. We recognise that a pre-requisite for effective participation in the global knowledge society, is that citizens of the world have access to knowledge. Freedom for all to engage in the global knowledge society is pre-requisite to taking the opportunity to co-creating a sustainable world.
8. We affirm that libre knowledge helps achieve development objectives by empowering people to gain a shared understanding and contribute to sustainable development locally, nationally, regionally and internationally in significant ways.
9. We urge all spheres of all governments, institutions and donor organisations concerned with national and global sustainable development, to adopt, support, develop and promote the use of libre knowledge and its underlying principles.
10. We undertake to share and develop our understanding of libre principles with our peers, friends, organisations and families through living the vision of a libre culture of cooperation towards a sustainable world.