PASSING THE TORCH

From San Francisco to Florida to Portugal to Japan and back again--  Creative Commons' 4th year anniversary celebration was held last Friday throughout the physical world, but three of its key figures were in the metaverse chapter for it.  I briefly entered SL from the Bay Area party, with Jimmy Wales, Lawrence Lessig, and Joi Ito logging in from those points across the globe. 

As it turns out, the SL-based party was also a place for an important announcement:  as of now, Joi will be taking over from Professor Lessig as Creative Commons' Chairman.  The event was symbolized in-world by a literal torch passing from Larry to Joi, and an award plaque presented to Larry by Wikipedia's founder. As is traditional in Second Life, wild dancing followed. 

(As it happens, where you might expect the roles to be reversed, there was less dancing at the hipster San Francisco party held at the office of a cool Internet music site, than in Second Life.  In fact, people at the SF party seemed too transfixed by the big screen projection of people dancing in SL, to dance themselves.)

More screenshots from the event after the break.  Since I wasn't able to save the transcript (Akela Talamasca of the SL Insider has some good excerpts), I'm merging them with Larry's official announcement on the CC blog.  You'll notice he makes a plea to consider donating to Creative Commons, but remember, SL users can contribute their Linden Dollars by teleporting to CC's office in Kula, and paying the Donate sign.  (Direct teleport at that link.)

Update, 12/19:  In Comments, CC's Genevieve Junot adds important credits for the gala and torch passing ceremony-- "Common Cure, who leads BoomToysLabs and the Toyshoppe Team for Second Life to Real World production, and partner, In Kenzo, who leads the AMO Studio content development team were responsible for designing and building the CC torch.  Larry's gift from the CC Board of Directors came from the Aimee Weber studio. Aimee Weber quickly and creatively made the scroll with customized text just in time for the ceremony."

Jimmy Wales passes the plaque

Lawrence Lessig: Hundreds of people helped mark this event. My 3 year old son, Willem, and I cut the first cake at the party in Portugal.

Five hours later, in the Creative Commons party in the virtual world of Second Life, I made for me an announcement. As I removed the CC torch from my bag of objects, I told those in world, and in San Francisco, that Joi Ito, a venture capitalist from Japan and a key driver in the “sharing economy,” would be replacing me as Chairman of Creative Commons. I will remain on the board, and as CEO. But from the moment I handed him the torch, he is CC’s new Chairman.

This is a very happy moment for CC. I’m not going anywhere — CC will continue to get everything I can give. But we are a movement, not a cult. And it is important that movements have leaders. I have had enormous respect for Joi since first meeting him in Japan in early 2000. It was a real coup when I was able to convince him to join our Board. Joi’s whole ethic has been to build the sharing economy. That ethic of building is precisely where CC is going right now.

This has been the best job I will have had. I can’t describe how extraordinary it has been to watch this organization grow, nor how rewarding it has been to see the passion and energy it has inspired. We have tried to show the world something about how creativity works – not through obsessive control, but by creators inviting others to create and share as well. More and more, this is a message the world seems to get.

But for now, let me leverage a bit the opportunity that the ambiguity of new leadership creates. After the thermometer is updated to reflect a very generous anonymous gift we just received, we will have just $100,000 left in our campaign. That’s a lot to raise in two weeks, but I think we can do it. Indeed, you can look at this change in leadership in two ways, each of which gives some of you a reason for one last push:

• Some of you have been loyal supporters of me from the very beginning. I can’t begin to express how grateful I’ve been for this support, or for the generous thanks you’ve offered. To you, please show that support one more time, by supporting CC in this final two weeks of our drive.

• Some of you have been loyal critics, with a different vision of copyright, or CC, and with a strong hope that the organization move beyond the particular vision I’ve offered. Now you have your chance: please celebrate the change, by supporting CC in this final two weeks of our drive.

Either way, what both I and CC need most just now is your support. A simple click is all we need to get that going.

Another successful CC party

Full disclosure:  I'm a proud consultant with Creative Commons' Second Life presence

Comments

[Gwyneth Llewelyn]

Prof Lessig was in Portugal and I've missed him?? What a shame on me!!

[Eric Rice]

Damn, remind Spin to ease off the pose ball punch, eh?

[genevieve junot]

I just wanted to add proper attribution to the communty members who created the beautiful torch and elegant plaque for us.

Common Cure, who leads BoomToysLabs and the Toyshoppe Team for Second Life to Real World production, and partner, In Kenzo, who leads the AMO Studio content development team were responsible for designing and building the CC torch.

Larry's gift from the CC Board of Directors came from the Aimee Weber studio. Aimee Weber quickly and creatively made the scroll with customized text just in time for the ceremony.

Thank you everyone!!