Creative Commons Licensing: Types, Elements, and Usage Rules

Creative Commons (CC)

It provides free-to-use licensing tools that refine standard copyright.

Copyright

All creations (photo, document, music) are automatically protected by copyright.

CC License

An easy, legally robust way for a creator to pre-grant certain permissions to the public.

Attribution (BY)

The reuser must acknowledge the creator/photographer as the original author.

Non-Commercial (NC)

No one else but the creator is permitted to make money from the work. Reusers cannot sell the work.

No Derivatives (ND)

The creator hasn't given permission to change or remix the photo/work. Reusers can use it but cannot modify, retouch, or mix it up.

Share Alike (SA)

New creations that use the work need to carry the same license (be shared under the same terms) as the original.

Attribution License

Includes the Attribution (BY) element and allows the most freedom.

Attribution-ShareAlike License

Includes Attribution (BY) and Share Alike (SA) elements.

Attribution-NoDerivatives License

Includes Attribution (BY) and No Derivatives (ND) elements.

Attribution-NonCommercial License

Includes Attribution (BY) and Non-Commercial (NC) elements.

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License

Includes Attribution (BY), Non-Commercial (NC), and Share Alike (SA) elements.

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License

Includes Attribution (BY), Non-Commercial (NC), and No Derivatives (ND) elements.

Freedom Level

Refers to the degree of freedom allowed by the license.

Licenses Restricting Commercial Use

The three licenses that contain the NC element restrict commercial use.

Licenses Restricting Adapting/Remixing

The two licenses that contain the ND element do not give permission for adapting or remixing.

Licenses Requiring Same Terms

The two licenses that contain the SA element require new works to be licensed under the same terms.

Free Cultural Works Approved Licenses

The two licenses that allow the most freedom are Attribution (BY) and Attribution-ShareAlike (BY-SA).