Copyright is a messy issue, especially for artists, designers, inventors and other creative tinkerers. While copyright laws theoretically help and protect artists and designers, in recent years, as information has become easier to access and remix, these laws have become a burden on creators. Creative Commons (an organization whose name you have probably heard around the web, especially on sites like Flickr and, ahem, this one) is "a nonprofit corporation dedicated to making it easier for people to share and build upon the work of others, consistent with the rules of copyright." By providing the licenses and tools to "mark creative work with the freedom the creator wants it to carry" they are empowering a generation of artists to share, remix and reuse.

Get Excited and Make Things by Matt Jones

If you've bought a print of Get Excited and Make Things by Matt Jones, you've already donated to Creative Commons, as the proceeds from that benefit edition go to CC! (There are just 100 prints remaining so consider taking one of the last ones!)

In fact, there's never been a better time to donate to CC because they just launched their new Catalyst Grants program, which is seeking to raise $100,000 to distribute as grants to "innovators, educators and researchers" working around the globe towards goals like open educational resources.

You can visit the Creative Commons website to learn more, including how to use their tools and how to donate.