Public open collaborative creation (POCC): A new archetype of authorship?

Abstract

Public open collaborative creation (POCC) model constitutes an important method of creating intellectual content within the sphere of digital humanities. POCC is defined as creation that takes place through the contributions of a multiplicity of persons (contributors) under a model of sequential innovation, resulting in the production of a literary, artistic, or scientific work which remains in a continuous state of change and development over an undefined period of time. This article examines the POCC model in relation to three creation projects that employ(ed) it for the production of literary and artistic content. It argues that the use of the POCC model has given rise to a new form of collaborative authorship that is inclusive and dynamic and as such cannot be adequately captured within the traditional notion of collaborative authorship currently recognized by copyright law. It concludes by outlining the need to revisit the existing notion of collaborative authorship in copyright law in order to enable it to accommodate the notion of POCC authorship.