Openness- Is it an ideology or reality?

By suifaijohnmak. Is commercialization in conflict with the 4Rs (reuse, revise, redistribute, and remix)? Most commercialized courses (MOOCs inclusive) require certain restrictions to access (may be for a free taster course that would be followed by the “main course” offered with a fee for service). So, what may be defined as open and free is limited under those programs, and that could contradict with the 4Rs, especially with the free to re-use, redistribute or to remix, as these are forbidden. Openness is at the heart of MOOCs, only that it may be semi-open, as a participant could enter the open door (register for free) with a MOOC, and use it personally, without any alteration of the course content. In those MOOCs, there is no remix, re-sending out of part or all of the resources allowed. Read more...