Keith Mack
Creative Commons is a global non-profit organization that enables the sharing and reuse of creativity and knowledge through free legal tools. It was established in 2001 as a response to the new capabilities of the internet, which were in stark contrast to the legal boundaries of traditional copyright laws. Creative Commons licenses are a set of flexible, pre-written copyright licenses that provide a simple, standardized way to give the public permission to share and use creative work under certain conditions. There are four license types: Attributions (BY), Share Alike (SA), Non-Commercial (NC), and No-Derivatives (ND), which can be mixed and matched depending on the preferences of the copyright holder. The latest version of the Creative Commons licenses is 4.0, which is better suited to international use.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Creative Commons Definition | Creative Commons is a global non-profit organization, a set of legal tools, a global network, and a movement to allow people to create and share their work openly with the world. |
| Creative Commons Licenses | Creative Commons licenses give everyone from individual creators to large institutions a standardized way to grant the public permission to use their creative work under copyright law. |
| License Types | There are six different license types: BY (Attribution), SA (Share Alike), NC (Non-Commercial), ND (No-Derivatives), CC0, and the Public Domain Mark. |
| License Layers | There are three layers to the Creative Commons Licenses: a legal code, a human-readable layer, and a machine-readable layer. |
| Latest Version | The latest version of Creative Commons licenses is 4.0, which is better suited for international use and sharing data. |
| Jurisdiction | The international licenses are jurisdiction-neutral and effective globally, making them preferable for rights holders. |
| Support | Creative Commons offers monthly office hours with experts on open licensing and copyright to answer questions about CC licenses and public domain tools. |
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What You'll Learn
Creative Commons: a global non-profit organisation
Creative Commons (CC) is an international non-profit organisation that provides free legal tools to enable the sharing and reuse of creativity and knowledge. CC empowers people to build and sustain a thriving commons of shared knowledge and culture, which is crucial for tackling the world's most pressing challenges and creating a better future for all.
CC has been supporting a global movement that advocates for open access to knowledge and creativity for over 20 years. The organisation has become a vital resource for individuals and organisations seeking to share historical images, scientific articles, cultural artefacts, educational resources, music, and more. From Wikipedia to the Smithsonian, CC has enabled the legal sharing of billions of resources.
CC licenses are copyright licenses that work within the existing copyright landscape. They provide a simple, standardised way for creators to grant the public permission to share and use their creative work under certain conditions. There are four license types: Attributions (BY), Share Alike (SA), Non-Commercial (NC), and No-Derivatives (ND). These can be mixed and matched according to the preferences of the copyright holder.
CC licenses offer a simplified one-page explanation of rights, accompanied by visual symbols, to clarify the specifics of each license. Creators can choose to waive their copyright and place their work in the public domain using the CC0 tool. Alternatively, they can utilise the Public Domain Mark, which indicates that a work is no longer covered by copyright restrictions.
CC is committed to ensuring that its licenses work internationally. The organisation has affiliates worldwide who raise awareness and help adapt CC licenses to different jurisdictions. By providing international licenses, CC offers a neutral approach that transcends political borders and supports global projects.
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CC licenses: copyright and usage rights
Creative Commons (CC) licenses are copyright licenses that allow creators to give others permission to share and use their work while reserving other rights. They are a set of flexible, pre-written copyright licenses that provide a simple, standardized way to give the public permission to share and use creative work under certain conditions. CC licenses depend on the existence of copyright to work. They are legal tools that creators and other rights holders can use to offer certain usage rights to the public.
CC licenses were designed to address the gap between "All Rights Reserved", which can be overly restrictive, and the public domain, which offers no rights protection. Creators can use CC licenses if they want to make their work available to the public for limited kinds of use while preserving their copyright. Those who want to reserve all of their rights under copyright law should not use CC licenses.
There are several types of CC licenses, each differing in terms of the combinations that condition the terms of distribution. The four license options are: Attributions (BY); Share Alike (SA); Non-Commercial (NC); and No-Derivatives (ND). These can be mixed and matched depending on the preferences of the copyright holder. All CC licenses require attribution.
CC0, or CC Zero, is a separate tool that enables creators to give up their copyright and put their works into the worldwide public domain. CC0 is different from a CC license because it is a choice to opt out of copyright protection.
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CC license types and how to use them
Creative Commons (CC) licenses are copyright licenses that enable the free distribution of copyrighted works. They were designed to be a middle ground between full copyright and public domain status. CC licenses allow creators to give others the right to share, use, and build upon their work, while still protecting them from copyright infringement.
There are six main CC license types, which can be mixed and matched to create a total of eleven valid CC licenses. The four main conditions are:
- Attribution (BY): Credit must be given to the creator.
- Share Alike (SA): Adaptations must be shared under the same terms as the original work.
- Non-Commercial (NC): Only non-commercial uses of the work are permitted.
- No Derivatives (ND): No derivatives or adaptations of the original work are allowed.
The six license types, from most to least permissive, are:
- CC BY: This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the original work in any medium for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as credit is given to the creator.
- CC BY-SA: This license is the same as above, but adaptations of the work must also be shared under the same terms.
- CC BY-NC: This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the original work in any medium, but only for non-commercial purposes, and as long as credit is given to the creator. Adaptations must also be licensed under identical terms.
- CC BY-ND: This license allows for redistribution of the original work, both commercial and non-commercial, as long as it is unchanged and credit is given to the creator.
- CC BY-NC-SA: This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the original work in any medium, but only in its original form and for non-commercial purposes, and as long as credit is given to the creator. Adaptations must be licensed under the same terms.
- CC BY-NC-ND: This is the most restrictive license. It only allows reusers to download and share the original work, as long as credit is given to the creator. Adaptations are not allowed.
In addition to these licenses, there are two public domain tools: CC0 and the Public Domain Mark. CC0 allows creators to waive their copyright and put their work into the public domain, while the Public Domain Mark indicates that a work is no longer covered by copyright.
It is important to note that all CC licenses are intended to work worldwide, and users should always use the latest version of the licenses. As of 2023, the latest version is 4.0, which is better suited to international use and sharing data.
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The benefits of CC for creators and reusers
Creative Commons (CC) is a global non-profit organisation that provides free licences for creators to use when making their work available to the public. These licences help creators give permission for others to use their work in advance under certain conditions.
CC licences are copyright licences that depend on the existence of copyright to work. They are a set of flexible, pre-written copyright licences that provide a simple, standardised way to give the public permission to share and use creative work under certain conditions.
There are several benefits of CC for creators. Firstly, they allow creators to select how they want others to use their work. Creators can choose from a range of CC licences depending on their preferences, such as whether they want their work to be used for commercial or non-commercial purposes, and whether they want to allow adaptations of their work. CC licences also help creators give permission for their content easily, and enable countless artists to reach audiences they might not have been able to otherwise. Additionally, creators who use CC licences tend to be more aware of copyright laws and are therefore less likely to accidentally infringe on someone else's copyright.
There are also several benefits of CC for reusers. CC licences provide a standardised way to grant the public permission to use creative work under copyright law, answering the question "What can I do with this work?". Reusers can use CC-licensed work without fear of violating copyright or facing litigation, and can easily find works they can reuse. CC licences also allow reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon material in any medium or format, as long as they give credit to the creator.
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CC legal tools and public domain tools
Creative Commons (CC) is a global non-profit organisation that provides free legal tools to enable the sharing and reuse of creative works. CC licenses are copyright licenses that allow creators to offer certain usage rights to the public while reserving other rights. This helps creators encourage collaboration and sharing while still maintaining control over how their work is used.
There are three layers to CC licenses: a legal code that provides terms enforceable in court, a human-readable layer that summarises the legal code, and a machine-readable layer that allows technology to understand and filter works by CC license. There are four license options to choose from: Attributions (BY), Share Alike (SA), Non-Commercial (NC), and No-Derivatives (ND). These licenses can be mixed and matched to suit the preferences of the copyright holder.
In addition to CC licenses, Creative Commons also offers two public domain tools: CC0 and the Public Domain Mark. CC0 allows creators to waive their copyright and put their work into the public domain, opting out of copyright protection. The Public Domain Mark is a universal label indicating that a work is no longer covered by copyright and is free of known copyright restrictions worldwide.
Creative Commons also provides resources and support for those using CC licenses and public domain tools. This includes maintaining databases of legal decisions and scholarship related to CC licenses, offering monthly office hours for questions, and creating translated versions of licenses and tools to ensure accessibility for users worldwide.
By using CC licenses and public domain tools, creators can share their work with the public, collaborate with other creators, and build upon existing works without fear of violating copyright laws. These legal tools empower creators to control how their work is used and shared, fostering a more open and collaborative creative ecosystem.
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Frequently asked questions
Creative Commons is a global non-profit organisation that provides free legal tools to help creators share and reuse their work. Creative Commons licenses are copyright licenses that allow creators to give the public permission to use their work under certain conditions, while still reserving some rights.
Creative Commons licenses provide a simple, standardised way to allow others to use your work. They also enable you to build upon the work of others without fear of violating copyright. Creative Commons licenses have enabled countless artists to reach wider audiences and have made projects like Wikipedia and Wiki-How possible.
There are four main types of Creative Commons licenses: Attributions (BY); Share Alike (SA); Non-Commercial (NC); and No-Derivatives (ND). These can be mixed and matched to suit your preferences. There are also two Public Domain tools: CC0 and the Public Domain Mark.
You can find out more about Creative Commons licenses and how to use them on the Creative Commons website. You can also attend monthly office hours with an expert on open licensing and copyright, or contact organisations like New Media Rights or the Copyright Team at the Center for Academic Innovation for more support.
All CC licenses are intended to work worldwide, but there are some differences between the ported licenses and international licenses. Unless you have a specific reason to use a ported license, it is usually better to use an international license as they are jurisdiction-neutral and effective globally. You may also want to consult with a lawyer to obtain advice on the best license for your needs.
