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Documentation

CommonsDB is an interoperable registry for Public Domain and openly licensed works. This documentation hub is organized into three main sections to help you navigate our infrastructure and participation guidelines.

  • System design: The system design section explores the technical architecture of the registry. This category includes a technical overview, details on our metadata schema, an explanation of the response logic and trust model, as well as a comprehensive glossary of terms.
  • Data Supplier Handbook: The handbook provides step-by-step guidance for participating in CommonsDB. It covers introductory concepts, reasons to participate, prerequisites, administrative onboarding and credential setup, the technical workflow for making declarations, and instructions for how to handle metadata conflicts and maintain your records.
  • Background information: This section offers foundational context about the broader project. Here you can find the 2021 white paper by Paul Keller and Felix Reda, Proposal to leverage Article 17 to build a public repository of Public Domain and openly licensed works, which outlined the concept for the registry. Additionally, this section includes explorations of the registry's role regarding AI training preferences and opt-outs.