In 2026, Creative Commons is committed to ensuring that technological advancements enhance, rather than diminish, the commons and foster sharing and access in our daily lives. We will achieve this by applying first principles, practical strategies, and lessons learned from decades of commons advancement. Sharing research, educational materials, heritage, and creative works is an act of generosity, enriching the commons. Access to these shared resources enables collaboration, innovation, and understanding, thereby improving access to knowledge and building a more equitable future. However, the conditions for sharing have evolved due to AI advancements and technological shifts. Some creators now question the exploitation potential of openness, while those contractually obligated to share may feel their contributions are being extracted without recognition or reciprocity. Communities preserving culture and ensuring representation face the impossible choice between allowing extraction and accepting exclusion. Moreover, the trustworthiness of information may become increasingly challenging to verify. Neglecting sharing would jeopardize the commons' survival, as the public good we all benefit from would atrophy and eventually disappear. Yet, maintaining the status quo is not an option. We must negotiate a new balance where access to knowledge is protected, communities retain agency, and conditional access may be necessary to counter unchecked commodification. These tensions demand leadership. In 2026, our focus will be on three strategic goals: strengthening the open infrastructure of sharing, defending and advocating for a thriving creative commons, and centering community. To strengthen the open infrastructure, we will engage deeply in defining attribution in the context of AI, ensuring creators are credited and users understand the origins of their knowledge. We will also explore strategies for mandating credit and compensation, minimizing unintended consequences. We will approach the development of CC signals with an R&D mindset, testing, evaluating, and refining to see what works. We will also consider whether new licenses are warranted or if existing licenses need versioning. Defending a thriving creative commons involves continuing our work in open science, supporting the rapid, open dissemination of scientific outputs, and accelerating the adoption of CC BY for preprints. We will also deepen our work on modular science with the Continuous Science Foundation, exploring how licensing can function as foundational infrastructure that incentivizes reuse and collaboration. In open culture, we will build on the launch of the Open Heritage Statement, hosting an event in Paris at UNESCO headquarters to encourage support from member states. Our work in open culture has been made possible by Arcadia support, but we are actively seeking grants to continue building on our gains and realizing the goal of open heritage becoming the norm. We will continue deep engagements in sectors where we've historically had great impact with the adoption of CC licenses and driving forth the ideals of openness. Centering community involves tackling big, open questions alongside our community, celebrating our 25th anniversary, hosting public conversations with experts, advocates, and dissenters, and developing resources based on these learnings. Our motto for the year is 'If nothing else, credit.' At Creative Commons, it comes down to choice and credit. If you choose to share knowledge, you should always be attributed. If you access knowledge, you are entitled to know where your information is coming from. As Creative Commons enters its 25th year, I'm hopeful we can work together, in community, to advocate for CC's core values in a changing world. Join us on Zulip or sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on our journey as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.
