CommonsDB: May 2025 update

Since our last update in March, we have been busy building out the CommonsDB registry of public domain and openly licensed works, working on several constituent parts of the repository. In this update, we want to provide you with some insights into our progress

Validating our approach: an expert workshop in The Hague

With the needs of future partners and users in mind, in March we convened a group of external experts in The Hague to discuss and validate CommonsDB’s technical approach and registry architecture. We delved into the conceptual and technical aspects underpinning the CommonsDB registry and gathered feedback from individuals representing the Internet Archive,  Beeld en Geluid, Creative Commons, Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum, and the Engelberg Center on Innovation Law & Policy.

📚 New CommonsDB Documentation Now Online

As we continue developing the technical foundations of CommonsDB, we are also building out the documentation section of our website. This growing resource aims to provide transparency into how the registry works, and to support collaboration with institutions, policymakers, and open content advocates.

We are pleased to share several new additions to the documentation, which provide insight into both the technical architecture and the conceptual framework guiding our work:

• A glossary of key terms that explains the core concepts and terminology behind CommonsDB, helping align understanding across the communities we work with.
• The metadata schema of the Declaration API, which outlines the structure and types of metadata CommonsDB accepts for rights declarations. This schema reflects our goal of focusing on rights-related metadata while avoiding duplication of data already maintained by source repositories.
• A first overview of the CommonsDB trust model, which describes how we ensure the verifiability, provenance, and integrity of the rights information published in the registry. This includes the role of qualified trust service providers, the use of verifiable credentials, and the cryptographic signing of all rights declarations.

These materials reflect our commitment to openness, interoperability, and trustworthiness—values that are foundational to CommonsDB. Whether you’re a cultural heritage institution, a digital policy expert, or an advocate for the public domain, we invite you to explore the documentation and share your feedback.

What's Next for CommonsDB?

As summer approaches, we’re working towards our goal of having a functional test registry operational in July. To learn more about what’s planned, check out our roadmap.