Berlin, 09.06.2020 - In a nationwide unique step, ZDF is putting numerous media and high-quality animations online under a free license. The content can thus be used and distributed by anyone without having to obtain permission from ZDF. This helps schools and Wikipedia enormously.

For months now, teachers' associations and the online encyclopedia have been working together with the public authorities towards a freer use of educational content. The reaction of ZDF is a first success in this. The actors hope that ARD will also show itself ready to talk about opening up educationally relevant formats. The 50 released contents of the ZDF main editorial office History and Science can be used by teachers, for example, for lessons at home as well as in the classroom, without legal concerns. The material is available as an open educational resource (OER) under a "Creative Commons" license with the conditions "BY" and, if applicable, "SHARE ALIKE". This means that when using the material, the author (ZDF, Terra X, Kreative etc.) must be named. The contents are still protected against distortion and falsification according to the general copyright rules. 

"Sharing pictures, graphics or videos for illustration in class is usually only legal in Germany within the classroom, but outside it is often an infringement of copyright. Teachers can hardly be expected to move in such legally murky waters. With Creative Commons licensing, however, sharing is expressly permitted. The ZDF thus legalizes quasi good teaching. The material can be incorporated into lesson plans with a clear conscience," says John Weitzmann, in-house counsel at Wikimedia Germany. The association provides an online license reference generator that facilitates correct attribution. 

ZDF content also in great demand on Wikipedia

Volunteers from Wikipedia had also expressed a need for the ZDF material. In November, ZDF had already provided climate content on a trial basis. Since then, the content has been accessed more than 5,000 times daily on Wikipedia, and the video on the "most important climate factors" even more than 60,000 times in total. The community of Wikipedia language versions decides on a case-by-case basis whether and in which articles the videos and graphics are to be supplemented. Wikipedia is written by volunteers, good material can help the online encyclopedia.

"We are very pleased with the initiative of ZDF. Whether video, infographics or text - free knowledge comes in many different forms. Such high-quality educational material is a real enrichment for Wikipedia," says Abraham Taherivand, Managing Director of Wikimedia Germany.

Telemedia concept must be revised

The content provided under Creative Commons will remain permanently available on various sites. Complete programs with educational relevance and other educational content of ZDF should also be permanently available online. This would make it easier to use them, for example, for lesson plans. Marlehn Thieme, Chairman of the ZDF Television Council, recently announced that the necessary decisions would be made at ZDF.