What does Creative Commons do?
Creative Commons allows users to openly license their work. The Creative Commons icons tell users exactly how they can use a work without having to seek permission. The work is still protected by copyright but falls under “some rights reserved”.
What is a Creative Commons license?
Creative Commons licenses provide copyright owners with different options to allow others to copy, distribute, and make use of their works. There are six licenses that can be used in different combinations. All licenses require attribution.
What do the different licenses mean?
- Attribution: A user may copy, share, or adapt the work, but must give credit to the creator through an attribution statement
- Non-commercial: Under these terms, a user cannot use the work in a way that is primarily intended for monetary compensation or commercial advantage.
- No derivatives: Under these terms, a user can share or copy a work, but cannot modify or adapt the work in anyway.
- ShareAlike: Under these terms, a user can modify or adapt a work, but must share the new work under the same license terms as the original work.
What should an attribution statement look like?
Attribution should include the
- Title
- Author
- Source
- License
Most attribution statements follow the same patterns as academic citations.
If they are still protected by copyright, what can I use Creative Commons for then?
Creative Commons has infinite purposes. It can be used for creating OER (open educational resources), publishing open access scholarly works, or adding stock or decorative images to courses or scholarly presentations.