What are Creative Commons licenses?
Creative Commons (CC) is a non-profit organization that makes it easy for creators to legally share their work with others under most countries' copyright regimes. They offer a standardized way to grant copyright permissions that anybody can apply to their work to allow others to share, remix, or use the work without having to ask for permission. There are several licenses, each with different terms for users.
The licenses are made up of one or more terms:
| Term | Icon | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Attribution (BY) |  |
The work can be copied, changed, shared and displayed, but you must give credit to the owner. |
| Non Commercial (NC) |  |
The work can be copied, changed, shared and displayed, but it must be done so non-commercially. |
| Share Alike (SA) |  |
The work can be changed and shared, but you must keep the original license on your derivative of the work. |
| No Derivatives (ND) |  |
The work can be copied, shared and displayed, but you can’t make changes to it. |
*A license cannot feature both the Share Alike and No Derivative options. The Share Alike requirement applied only to derivative works.
Links & Files
- What is the best practice for attributing works licensed under Creative Commons? Opens in new window
- What does it mean to publish under an open license? Opens in new window
- How do I apply an open license to my work? Opens in new window
- I’ve heard the term Open Educational Resources (OER). What does it mean? Opens in new window