What is Creative Commons? [Explained]

Creative Commons

What is Creative Commons?

Creative Commons (CC) is a non-profit organization that offers a flexible range of copyrights licenses, allowing creators to legally share their digital content like music, photos, and videos.

The mission of Creative Commons is to increase the amount of creative works available for others to build upon and share, fostering a more accessible and collaborative creator economy.

How many types of Creative Commons licenses are there?

There are six main types of Creative Commons licenses, each varying in the permissions and restrictions they provide:

CC BY: Attribution
CC BY-SA: Attribution-ShareAlike
CC BY-ND: Attribution-NoDerivs
CC BY-NC: Attribution-NonCommercial
CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
CC BY-NC-ND: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs

What does each Creative Commons license allow and prohibit?

CC BY allows others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, as long as attribution is given to the creator.
CC BY-SA allows the same as CC BY, but adaptations must be shared under the same terms.
CC BY-ND allows for redistribution, commercial and non-commercial, as long as it is passed along unchanged and in whole, with credit to the creator.
CC BY-NC allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge the creator and be non-commercial, they don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.
CC BY-NC-SA allows others to remix, tweak, and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as they credit the creator and license their new creations under the identical terms.
CC BY-NC-ND is the most restrictive of the six licenses, only allowing others to download the works and share them with others as long as they credit the creator, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially.

How does a Creative Commons license affect copyright?

Creative Commons licenses respect copyright law and ensure that creators maintain their copyright while allowing others to use the work under the conditions they specify.

How can someone use Creative Commons-licensed materials?

To use Creative Commons licensed materials, one must adhere to the terms specified in the license:

Properly attribute the creator.
Follow the restrictions about commercial use or modifications as specified by the license.
Not imply endorsement by the original creator without permission.

What are the benefits of using a Creative Commons license for content creators?

Using a Creative Commons license allows creators to maintain copyright control while enabling others to share and possibly expand on their work. This can lead to increased visibility, collaboration, and distribution of their work.

What are the limitations of Creative Commons licenses?

Limitations include confusion over the varying restrictions of different licenses, potential misuse of the license terms, and the complexity of combining CC-licensed work with other copyrighted materials under incompatible terms.

Does Creative Commons mean free to use?

Creative Commons licenses allow the use of works for free, but each license may have conditions such as requiring attribution, limiting commercial use, or requiring that derivative works be licensed similarly.

Is it safe to use Creative Commons?

Using Creative Commons is generally safe on YouTube if you follow the license terms strictly. However, you must ensure you understand the specific requirements and restrictions of the license applied.

What is the difference between the YouTube license and Creative Commons?

The standard YouTube license allows users to watch and share videos on YouTube, but does not permit the alteration or distribution outside YouTube. In contrast, Creative Commons licenses on YouTube allow others to use the video as specified by the type of CC license, which can include modifying or incorporating it into other works.