ABSTRACT
Accountability is of constant concern in an environment that allows expansive participation from a diverse population. Internet accessibility has expanded quickly, faster than a system of digital ethics could be developed and imposed. In addition, the growth of social media has increased global availability of multimedia materials, giving way to the creation of technologies that can enable people to use other’s work both ethically and unethically. One way to understanding the difference between sharing and uploading work is to think about the term “free.” The author had seen digital media workers use this term in three contexts that contribute to the confusion: access, cost, and use. Public Domain is an often-misunderstood term. “Public Domain” simply means that the material is not restricted by copyright and is available for personal or commercial use by the public at no cost.
