Creative Commons Licenses, Explained

Summary

This video provides a comprehensive guide to Creative Commons (CC) licenses, explaining how they allow creators to share their works while retaining certain rights. The video covers the four main types of CC licenses—Attribution, ShareAlike, NonCommercial, and NoDerivatives—as well as public domain tools like CC0 and the Public Domain Mark. Viewers will also learn how to properly attribute works, the importance of understanding commercial use, and the distinctions between Creative Commons and other licensing systems like GNU. With practical tips on how to identify CC-licensed content, this video is a valuable resource for creators and users alike.

Takeaways

• 😀 Creative Commons (CC) is a non-profit organization that provides free copyright licenses for creators to share their work legally.
• 😀 There are four main types of Creative Commons licenses: Attribution (BY), ShareAlike (SA), NonCommercial (NC), and NoDerivatives (ND).
• 😀 The Attribution (BY) condition requires users to credit the original creator when using their work.
• 😀 ShareAlike (SA) means that if users modify the work, they must share it under the same terms as the original license.
• 😀 NonCommercial (NC) limits the use of the work to non-commercial purposes only.
• 😀 NoDerivatives (ND) allows users to copy, distribute, and display the work but not modify it without permission.
• 😀 In addition to the core licenses, CC0 is a public domain tool that allows works to be free of copyright restrictions.
• 😀 The Public Domain Mark indicates works that are publicly available and free from copyright worldwide, typically older works.
• 😀 Creative Commons licenses are built on three layers: legal code, human-readable summaries, and machine-readable data for search engines.
• 😀 Attribution is essential in all Creative Commons licenses. Always credit the original creator and link to the license deed.
• 😀 Commercial use, such as in monetized YouTube videos, may require a license that allows for commercial use; be cautious and read the license terms carefully.

Q & A

What is Creative Commons?

Creative Commons is a non-profit organization founded in 2001 that offers free copyright licenses, allowing creators to specify which rights they reserve and which rights they waive, without the need for individual negotiations.

What are the four basic conditions of Creative Commons licenses?

The four basic conditions are: Attribution (BY), ShareAlike (SA), NonCommercial (NC), and NoDerivatives (ND).

What does the Attribution (BY) condition require?

The Attribution (BY) condition requires that anyone using the work must give proper credit to the original creator.

How does the ShareAlike (SA) condition work?

The ShareAlike (SA) condition allows others to copy, distribute, perform, and modify the work, as long as any modified versions are also shared under the same terms.

What is the NonCommercial (NC) condition?

The NonCommercial (NC) condition allows users to copy, distribute, display, perform, and modify the work for non-commercial purposes only.

What does the NoDerivatives (ND) condition allow?

The NoDerivatives (ND) condition allows others to copy, distribute, display, and perform the original work, but not modify it without explicit permission.

What is CC0, and how does it relate to public domain?

CC0 is a public domain tool that allows creators to dedicate their works to the public domain, waiving all rights to the fullest extent allowed by law, so that others can freely use it without restrictions.

What is the Public Domain Mark?

The Public Domain Mark is used to indicate works that are free of copyright around the world, typically older works found in museums or libraries.

How does Creative Commons make their licenses understandable?

Creative Commons licenses are built on a three-layer system: a legal code, a human-readable summary, and a machine-readable layer that helps search engines find licensed content.

How should attribution be given for a Creative Commons-licensed work?

Attribution should include the title of the work, a link to the original image, the author's name with a link to their profile or website, and a disclosure of the license with a link to the license deed. If changes were made to the work, these should also be listed.