The 2021 CC Global Summit (September 20-24) is on the horizon, and we have another ‘Meet the CC Summit Presenter’ Q&A for you! Meet Dr. Matthew Rimmer, a Professor in Intellectual Property and Innovation Law at the Faculty of Business and Law, at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He has published widely on copyright law and information technology, patent law and biotechnology, access to medicines, plain packaging of tobacco products, intellectual property and climate change, Indigenous Intellectual Property, and intellectual property and trade. He is undertaking research on intellectual property and 3D printing; the regulation of robotics and artificial intelligence; and intellectual property and public health (particularly looking at the coronavirus COVID-19). His work is archived at QUT ePrints, SSRN Abstracts, Bepress Selected Works, and Open Science Framework. 

Based in: Brisbane, Australia (As the Men at Work song goes, “I come from a Land down under” )

Summit Session: Adbusting Big Tobacco; Australia’s TRIPS Waiver Wobble; The Right to Repair

How did you get involved with Creative Commons?

My interest in intellectual property and the commons arose as a student in the 1990s – and pre-dates the establishment of the Creative Commons.

How many times have you been to CC Global Summit?

This is my 4th consecutive Creative Commons Summit (following on from Toronto, Canada, Lisbon, Portugal, and the Corona-Lockdown Virtual Summit).

What was your favorite CC Global Summit?

Lisbon, Portugal

In the future, what is something you would like to see at the CC Summit?

I would like to see the Creative Commons movement grapple with the grand challenges of the sustainable development goals – such as poverty and inequality, education and access to knowledge, public health, climate action, and responsible consumption and production.

Why are you an advocate for Open?

I am an advocate for open innovation in order to address and achieve the goals of access to knowledge, health for all, and climate justice.

“‘Better Sharing, Brighter Future’ signals the need for intergenerational justice — the demand for long-term solutions to global challenges.”

What is your proudest achievement?

I was part of the collective effort – which brought about the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products in Australia, and its defence in the High Court of Australia, an ISDS tribunal, and the WTO. Standardized packaging for tobacco products has proven to be an effective means of tackling the global tobacco epidemic in a range of countries around the world.

What is the best part of what you do? What is the most difficult part of what you do?

The best part of my work is building research networks and social movements to advocate for law reform in respect of intellectual property in areas of public policy. The most difficult part of my work is that the intellectual property debates I care about are perennial battles – they require long-term work and advocacy.

What is your favorite GIF?

The Laughing Kookaburra is my favourite GIF – as I hear and see Kookaburras where I live every day. 

What tool/platform/app are you loving right now?

Nugs. It has been wonderful to watch live music by Sleater-Kinney and Wilco – while in lockdown in Australia, and during interruptions and cancellations to performing arts events in Australia.

What is the biggest setback you have experienced? How did you overcome it?

Australian singer-songwriter Paul Kelly has a great song about solutions for a “Stumbling Block”.

If you could only leave people with one message from your summit presentation, what would it be?

Open Innovation has powerful collaborative, community-based solutions for global challenges – such as the tobacco epidemic, the Coronavirus pandemic, and runaway climate change.

What was the best career advice you ever received? What was the worst career advice you ever received?

Best Career Advice – You’ll Never Walk Alone, The Kop, Anfield, Liverpool FC. 

Worst Career Advice – You’ll never work in this town again, from a Senior Professor after I spoke up about access to essential medicines in the National Australian media.

What would you like to say to Creative Commons on our 20th anniversary?

The Creative Commons needs to lift its ambitions to tackle the pressing Sustainable Development Goals in the future.

What does ‘Better Sharing, Brighter Future’ mean to you?

‘Better Sharing, Brighter Future’ signals the need for intergenerational justice – the demand for long-term solutions to global challenges.

Have you registered for the 2021 CC Global Summit yet? Don’t worry if you haven’t, there is still time. Register here >>

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Our ‘Meet the CC Summit Presenter’ series is taking us across the world, next up we head to Australia. Meet Dr. Muhammad Zaheer Abbas, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Faculty of Business and Law, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia. He has undertaken extensive research on public health dimensions of intellectual property laws. He has written about TRIPS Agreement’s public health flexibilities, like compulsory licensing (Journal of World Intellectual Property, 2018), parallel importation (Journal of Generic Medicines, 2021), and patent opposition (Global Public Health, 2020). He has evaluated the possibility of invoking trade-related security exceptions (ANZSIL Perspective, 2021), the practical implications of ‘vaccine nationalism’ (South Views 2020), and the importance of localized supply chains (South Views, 2021). He has also analyzed policy options like patent pooling (Journal of Law and the Biosciences, 2020), tiered pricing (Journal of Generic Medicines, 2020). Abbas has also considered the implications of free trade agreements (Australasian Dispute Resolution Journal, 2018) and evergreening (Journal of Generic Medicines, 2019) for affordable and equitable access to essential medicines. He has been providing expert commentary on the issue of access to vaccines and other COVID-related health technologies during the current pandemic.

Based in: Brisbane, Australia

Summit Session: Inefficiency of the TRIPS Agreement’s Article 31bis Mechanism: The Bolivia-Biolyse Case

How did you get involved with Creative Commons?

I was introduced to Creative Commons by Professor Matthew Rimmer – previously my PhD supervisor, and currently my colleague and mentor at the Faculty of Business and Law, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.

Why are you an advocate for Open?

I have been advocating for improved access to affordable medicines for almost a decade now. I have mostly dealt with patent law barriers in accessing innovative health technologies. I understand the access barriers posed by copyright laws in the domain of education and science. I advocate for Open, as it is the way to more equitable and inclusive outcomes.

“Better sharing is key to a brighter future. We need to adopt inclusive and equitable approaches in terms of sharing the knowledge and resources, making sure that no one is left behind.”

What is your proudest achievement?

I am a modest early-career academic researcher eager to learn and contribute positively to society. I will see it as an achievement if I remain focused and consistent in making my humble efforts.

What is the best part of what you do? What is the most difficult part of what you do?

The best and satisfying part of my academic work is that it is motivated by concerns for humanity and aimed at protecting the public interest. It is frustrating that mostly nothing is done at national and international levels to address the adequately highlighted public policy concerns.

What is the biggest setback you have experienced? How did you overcome it?

Life has been kind to me so far.

If you could only leave people with one message from your summit presentation, what would it be?

We must always raise our voice for justice and fairness. The safeguard mechanisms – like compulsory licensing – that we put in place in response to HIV/AIDS are not delivering their intended results. There is a need to revisit and fix the broken systems if we are serious in suppressing the current COVID-19 pandemic in a timely manner.

What was the best career advice you ever received?

Make values based decisions and try to build goodwill. Be humble, open-minded, and respectful, and acknowledge the contributions of others. 

What would you like to say to Creative Commons on our 20th anniversary?

Keep up the great work!

What does ‘Better Sharing, Brighter Future’ mean to you?

Better sharing is key to a brighter future. We need to adopt inclusive and equitable approaches in terms of sharing the knowledge and resources, making sure that no one is left behind.

Reserve a spot at the 2021 CC Global Summit, taking place virtually on September 20-24! Register here >>

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We’re back with another ‘Meet the CC Summit Presenter‘ Q&A. Next up, Alissa Bigelow, a Program Facilitator for the Ontario Extend program. In her role as a Program Facilitator, she creates engaging Communities of Practice about the Ontario Extend program and the “Empowered Educator” micro-credential to connect post-secondary faculty across the province of Ontario. These sessions focus on building community while increasing digital fluency skills, and support faculty with the selection and evaluation of emerging technologies and new pedagogical practices in online and flexible learning environments. She is also an Instructional Design Technologist in the Centre for Teaching & Learning at Georgian College. In her role as an Instructional Design Technologist, she develops, implements and evaluates several software and educational technology pilot initiatives. She is passionate about researching new and emerging technologies that will improve the student learning experience. She has extensive background and experience with the Articulate 360 Suite, H5P and Pressbooks technologies, and a strong foundational knowledge of the principles of Universal Design for Learning & Open Pedagogy.

Based in: Barrie, Ontario – Canada

Summit Session: Building digital fluency skills and communities of practices through open access with the Ontario Extend program.

How did you get involved with Creative Commons?

I have been an avid follower of Creative Commons for several years. As someone who is passionate about Open Educational practices and resources, Creative Commons has been an incredible source of information.

What was your favorite CC Global Summit?

Toronto, 2016

Why are you an advocate for Open?

I believe education is a right that should be available and accessible to everyone. My elementary school motto was “Knowledge is Power!” and I feel very strongly that this is true. Everyone should have access to learn and make the world a better place. There are so many injustices in the world, education should not be one of them.

“Everyone should have access to learn and make the world a better place. There are so many injustices in the world, education should not be one of them.”

What is your proudest achievement?

My four incredible children! (17, 16, 13, 12)

What is the best part of what you do? What is the most difficult part of what you do?

The best part of what I do is interact and educate people about Open Education. I find knowledge about OE, OER and OP varies greatly, and there is a need to advocate for growing these initiatives. Working with closed minded folks who are stuck in their ways is definitely a challenge.

What is your favorite GIF?

via GIPHY

What tool/platform/app are you loving right now?

I love MS Teams! This app has enabled me to create community with our remote faculty throughout the pandemic. It’s great for asynchronous and synchronous interaction and group work. The integrations with other Microsoft products is incredible and it is a very powerful tool.

What’s one new trend that you think the CC community should look out for?

Open technologies to facilitate HyFlex delivery. Right now, the technologies we are using for this delivery method are quite expensive and proprietary. It would be great to see some new open source technologies that can facilitate a more broad application worldwide.

What is the biggest setback you have experienced? How did you overcome it?

I was told I’d never get into University to become a teacher with the grades I had in high school (79% average overall). Instead, I pursued a career in Computer Networking & Engineering, which led to software support in education, which led to teaching post-secondary computer networking courses, which led to my current Instructional Design Technologist position. I have not only overcome that set back, I have crushed it!

If you could only leave people with one message from your summit presentation, what would it be?

Find your comfort zone and push the boundaries. Experiment!

What was the best career advice you ever received?

The best career advice I’ve received has been in the form of support from my colleagues. I can’t narrow down one that particularly stuck out for me, but others’ confidence in my skills and abilities has been key to my successes. 

What would you like to say to Creative Commons on our 20th anniversary?

Wow! Congratulations & cheers to 20+ more!

What does ‘Better Sharing, Brighter Future’ mean to you?

Exactly that. Let’s share to make a brighter future for everyone.

Whether you’re an activist, advocate, librarian, educator, lawyer, creator, or technologist, the 2021 CC Global Summit has got you covered. Join us September 20-24 for an unforgettable experience! Register here >>

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The countdown to the 2021 CC Global Summit continues! Next up in our ‘Meet the CC Summit Presenter’ series, we have Dr. Kavita Batra. An assistant Professor at Manohar Memorial College of Education, Fatehabad, Haryana India, Dr. Kavita has worked as teacher educator for the last fourteen years. She is passionate about the integration of technology in education and equipping future teachers with the knowledge of educational tools so that they can serve society in a better way.

Based in: Fatehabad, India

Summit Session: Improving Assessment through Bloom’s Taxonomy and Rubrics

How did you get involved with Creative Commons?

Through the creation of OER under the UNESCO’s open education for better world online mentoring program

How many times have you been to CC Global Summit?

It is my very first time.

Why are you an advocate for Open?

Sharing is Caring!

What is your proudest achievement?

Releasing my first MOOC on Improving Assessment through Bloom’s Taxonomy and Rubrics.

What is the best part of what you do? What is the most difficult part of what you do?

I like teaching with the story telling method, and it is the best part of my work, but sometimes I find it a little bit difficult to animate my stories.

What is your favorite GIF?

via GIFER

What tool/platform/app are you loving right now?

I love the Padlet because my students enjoy collaborative learning.

What is the biggest setback you have experienced? How did you overcome it?

When people at administrative level don’t understand opinions on a progressive level, my positive mindset helps me a lot.

If you could only leave people with one message from your summit presentation, what would it be?

Accept and Love yourself, and keep on moving.

What was the best career advice you ever received? 

I received my best career advice from my Father, “Listen to everyone, but do whatever your mind tells.”

What would you like to say to Creative Commons on our 20th anniversary?

Keep up the good work. 

What does ‘Better Sharing, Brighter Future’ mean to you?

Sharing the wisdom, Radiating the Happiness…makes the world shine.

Whether you’re an activist, advocate, librarian, educator, lawyer, creator, or technologist, the 2021 CC Global Summit has got you covered. Join us September 20 – 24! Register here >>

 

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We’re back with another ‘Meet the CC Summit Presenter’ Q&A — next up is Frederick Noronha. Frederick is a journalist, alternative book publisher, Wikipedia’s Editor of the Week in March 2020,  Free Software supporter, shared 66+K photographs under Creative Commons licenses, has served on the jury of the FSF Award for the Advancement of Free Software. One of the early online networking media-persons in India, since circa 1995.  Frederick claim to fame — a two-letter Twitter handle @fn.

Based in: Goa, India

Summit Session: Code, Words and Ideas: Contrasting Free Software, the Wikipedia and CC

How did you get involved with Creative Commons?

By reading about it online… was already immersed in supporting Free Software, GNU, and the concept of sharable code/information/etc. As a journalist who believes that information needs to have a (positive) purpose, this comes naturally to me.

How many times have you been to CC Global Summit?

Once before, 2019, Lisbon.

In the future, what is something you would like to see at the CC Summit?

More participation by more people, perhaps digitally, so as not to widen CC’s carbon footprint, and yet also involve more in sharing such an idea with much potential. More networks across the globe at the regional and even sub-regional level.

Why are you an advocate for Open?

People are dying due to a lack of knowledge (literally). The least we can do is to share it, liberally….  We need to go beyond the concepts that have grown out of ideas from the Medieval and colonial times, more suited to meet the interests of corporations and those who control them.

“We need a more globalized perspective to take the CC ideal forward. Let’s look to traditions and thought systems from more remote parts of the globe. A stronger case to challenge the entire logic of copyright is seriously needed.”

What is your proudest achievement?

Building bridges between the Wikipedia, Free Software, Community Radio, Creative Commons, Open Access, alternative publishing, developmental communications, in my part of the globe (Goa, India… and a little beyond). Just a series of small achievements. Maybe also staying committed to the idea of sharing knowledge and information for the last 25 years?

What is the best part of what you do? What is the most difficult part of what you do?

Being able to use IT and the Internet to build alternative spaces for communication, including at the local level, thus making real theories of “development communication”, alternative journalism, etc. Finding out that the day has only 25 hours!

What tool/platform/app are you loving right now?

GNU/Linux, which I would support even if it was a worse option, purely on ideological grounds. WhatsApp: politically very incorrect for sure, but a useful tool for building very focused and often very useful micro networks in this corner of the globe. Email and Mailman, a fantastic tool for building wider networks, despite its limitations compared to Instant Messangers of today, and being used since 1995. Tonnes of Free Software — LyX to produce books, Jstor to write articles in, GIMP for editing images, Inkscape for creating posters, etc.

What’s one new trend that you think the CC community should look out for?

We need a more globalized perspective to take the CC ideal forward. Let’s look to traditions and thought systems from more remote parts of the globe. A stronger case to challenge the entire logic of copyright is seriously needed.

What is the biggest setback you have experienced? How did you overcome it?

See life more in terms of learning experiences rather than “setbacks”. But the incorporation of some parts of the “free knowledge” movements, and sustained attacks on their leadership (from Assange, to Stallman), the use of “predatory journal” logic to systematically hit out at Open Access, and the stranglehold attained by proprietorial software over Open Source has been a painful reality for someone watching these “movements” from close quarters for long.

If you could only leave people with one message from your summit presentation, what would it be?

This is an idea whose time has come; work harder to take it forward. Find the hack(s) to attain that.

What was the best career advice you ever received? What was the worst career advice you ever received?

BEST: Follow your heart; do what you love. WORST: Don’t take part in students’ protests, that’s only for the rich kids.

What would you like to say to Creative Commons on our 20th anniversary?

Great going. Work to expand. Create more regional affiliates. Having a single institutional member/organisation in a huge country doesn’t make sense. Find new ways to make the idea more catchy and easy-to-spread. Network more closely with other parallel movements that work to make knowledge/code/information free. Concepts could be made simpler to appeal to many more. We are still touching only a very tiny part of our potential… Yours is a powerful idea (with scope for improvement, of course).

Haven’t had a chance to register for the 2021 Global Summit yet? Register here >>

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