Frequently Asked Questions - Creative Commons

The phrase “All Rights Reserved” is often used by owners to indicate that they reserve all of the rights granted to them under the law. When ... Skiptocontent Helpusbuildavibrant,collaborativeglobalcommons DonateNow English|Français 2021-06-1517:59:43UTC AboutCC WhatisCreativeCommonsandwhatdoyoudo? IsCreativeCommonsagainstcopyright? Whatdoes“SomeRightsReserved”mean? CanCreativeCommonsgivelegaladviceaboutitslicensesorothertools,orhelpwithCClicenseenforcement? DoesCreativeCommonscollectortrackmateriallicensedunderaCClicense? WhatdotheCreativeCommonsbuttonsdo? MayIusetheCreativeCommonslogoandbuttons? IloveCreativeCommons.HowcanIhelp? WhydoesCreativeCommonsrunanannualfundraisingcampaign?Whatisthemoneyusedforandwheredoesitgo? GeneralLicenseInformation WhatareCreativeCommonslicenses? HowdoCClicensesoperate? WhichisthelatestversionofthelicensesofferedbyCreativeCommons? DoCreativeCommonslicensesaffectexceptionsandlimitationstocopyright,suchasfairdealingandfairuse? WhogivespermissiontousematerialofferedunderCreativeCommonslicenses? AreCreativeCommonslicensesenforceableinacourtoflaw? WhathappensifsomeoneappliesaCreativeCommonslicensetomyworkwithoutmyknowledgeorauthorization? Whataretheinternational(“unported”)CreativeCommonslicenses,andwhydoesCCoffer“ported”licenses? CanIincludeaworklicensedwithCCBYinaWikipediaarticleeventhoughtheyuseaCCBY-SAlicense? Cangovernmentsandintergovernmentalorganizations(“IGOs”)useCClicenses? CanchildrenapplyCreativeCommonslicensestoworktheycreate? WhataretheofficialtranslationsoftheCClicensesandCC0? WhatisaBY-SACompatibleLicense? ForLicensors Choosingalicense WhatthingsshouldIthinkaboutbeforeIapplyaCreativeCommonslicense? HowshouldIdecidewhichlicensetochoose? WhyshouldIusethelatestversionoftheCreativeCommonslicenses? WhatifCClicenseshavenotbeenportedtomyjurisdiction? ShouldIchooseaninternationallicenseoraportedlicense? WhyshouldIusethelicensechooser?WhatifIdon’t? HowdoIapplyaCreativeCommonslicensetomymaterial? DoIneedtoregisterwithCreativeCommonsbeforeIobtainalicense? WhatdothetermsandconditionsofaCClicenseapplyto? CanIapplyaCreativeCommonslicensetosoftware? CanIapplyaCreativeCommonslicensetodatabases? CouldIuseaCClicensetosharemylogoortrademark? MayIapplyaCreativeCommonslicensetoaworkinthepublicdomain? IfItakeaphotographofanotherworkthatisinthepublicdomain,canIapplyaCClicensetomyphoto? MayIapplyaCClicensetomyworkifitincorporatesmaterialusedunderfairuseoranotherexceptionorlimitationtocopyright? Rightsotherthancopyright CanIuseCClicensestolicenserightsotherthancopyright? HowdoCreativeCommonslicensesaffectmymoralrights,ifatall? CanIoffermaterialunderaCClicensethathasmytrademarkonitwithoutalsolicensingoraffectingrightsinthetrademark? Howarepublicity,privacy,andpersonalityrightsaffectedwhenIapplyaCClicense? Whatisthedifferencebetweenplagiarismandcopyrightinfringement?AndwhatroledoCClicensesplaytoaddressplagiarism? Businessmodels CanIapplyaCClicensetolow-resolutioncopiesofalicensedworkandreservemorerightsinhigh-resolutioncopies? CanIuseaCreativeCommonslicenseifIamamemberofacollectingsociety? CanIstillmakemoneyfromaworkImakeavailableunderaCreativeCommonslicense? Alterationsandadditionstothelicense CanIinsistontheexactplacementoftheattributioncredit? CanIchangethelicensetermsorconditions? CanIwaivelicensetermsorconditions? CanIenterintoseparateorsupplementalagreementswithusersofmywork? Afterlicensing WhathappensifIoffermymaterialunderaCreativeCommonslicenseandsomeonemisusesthem? WhatcanIdoifIoffermymaterialunderaCreativeCommonslicenseandIdonotlikethewaysomeoneusesit? WhatdoIdoifsomeonetriestoplaceeffectivetechnologicalmeasures(suchasDRM)onmyCC-licensedmaterial? WhenIreleasemyworkunderaCClicenseinoneformat(e.g.,.pdf),canIrestrictlicenseesfromchangingittoorusingitinotherformats? WhatifIchangemymindaboutusingaCClicense? ForLicensees BeforeusingCC-licensedmaterial WhatshouldIthinkaboutbeforeusingmaterialofferedunderaCreativeCommonslicense? DoesaCreativeCommonslicensegivemealltherightsIneedtousethework? WhatiftherearesuigenerisdatabaserightsthatapplytomyuseofaCC-licenseddatabase? WherecanIfindmaterialofferedunderaCClicense? AreCreativeCommonsworksreallyfreetouse? WhatshouldIknowaboutdifferencesbetweentheinternationallicensesandtheportedlicenses? Generallicensecompliance WhathappensifIwanttousethematerialinawaythatisnotpermittedbythelicense? DoIalwayshavetocomplywiththelicenseterms?Ifnot,whataretheexceptions? Attribution HowdoIproperlyattributematerialofferedunderaCreativeCommonslicense? DoIneedtobeawareofanythingelsewhenprovidingattribution? DoIalwayshavetoattributethecreatorofthelicensedmaterial? Usinglicensedmaterial DoesmyuseviolatetheNonCommercialclauseofthelicenses? CanItakeaCC-licensedworkanduseitinadifferentformat? HowdoIknowifalow-resolutionphotoandahigh-resolutionphotoarethesamework? CanIreuseanexcerptofalargerworkthatislicensedwiththeNoDerivsrestriction? CanIuseeffectivetechnologicalmeasures(suchasDRM)whenIshareCC-licensedmaterial? CanIshareCC-licensedmaterialonpassword-protectedsites? CanIshareCC-licensedmaterialonfile-sharingnetworks? DoIneedtoworryaboutwebsitetermsofservicewhenIshareCC-licensedcontentonsocialmediaplatforms? Additionalrestrictionsonlicensedmaterial WhatifIreceivedCC-licensedmaterialencumberedwitheffectivetechnologicalmeasures(suchasDRM)? WhatifIhavereceivedCC-licensedmaterialwithadditionalrestrictions? CombiningandadaptingCCmaterial Whenismyuseconsideredanadaptation? CanIcombinematerialunderdifferentCreativeCommonslicensesinmywork? IfIderiveoradaptmaterialofferedunderaCreativeCommonslicense,whichCClicense(s)canIuse? IfIcreateacollectionthatincludesaworkofferedunderaCClicense,whichlicense(s)mayIchooseforthecollection? Licensetermination WhendoCreativeCommonslicensesexpire? WhathappensiftheauthordecidestorevoketheCClicensetomaterialIamusing? HowcanIlosemyrightsunderaCreativeCommonslicense?Ifthathappens,howdoIgetthemback? TechnicalQuestions HowdoCreativeCommonslicensesandpublicdomaintoolsworktechnically? WhatdoesitmeanthatCreativeCommonslicensesare“machine-readable”? WhatisRDFa? WhatisCCRELandwhydoesCreativeCommonsrecommendit? WhatdoesitmeanforasearchenginetobeCC-enabled? HowdoIgiveusersofmysitetheoptiontouseCClicensinglikeFlickrdoes? HowcanIchangeorremovetheCreativeCommonssearchoptionbuiltintotheFirefoxbrowser? IsCreativeCommonsinvolvedindigitalrightsmanagement(DRM)? LegalBackground Whatiscopyrightandwhydoesitmatter? Whatisthepublicdomain? WhatdoIneedtodotogetacopyright? Whatisanadaptation? Whataremoralrights? Whatareneighboringrights? Whataresuigenerisdatabaserights? Whatarecollectingsocieties? Whatarepublicity,personality,andprivacyrights? Data FrequentlyaskedquestionsaboutdataandCClicenses CandatabasesbereleasedunderCClicenses? WhenaCClicenseisappliedtoadatabase,whatisbeinglicensed? HowdoIapplyaCClegaltooltoadatabase? HowdothedifferentCClicenseelementsoperateforaCC-licenseddatabase? CanIconducttext/dataminingonaCC-licenseddatabase? HowdoesthetreatmentofsuigenerisdatabaserightsvaryinpriorversionsofCClicenses? WhatisthedifferencebetweentheOpenDataCommonslicensesandtheCC4.0licenses? Frequentlyaskedquestionsaboutdata,generally Whichcomponentsofdatabasesareprotectedbycopyright? HowdoIknowwhetheraparticularuseofadatabaseisrestrictedbycopyright? Ifmyuseofadatabaseisrestrictedbycopyright,howdoIcomplywiththelicense? Whichcomponentsofadatabaseareprotectedbysuigenerisdatabaserights? HowdoIknowwhetheraparticularuseofadatabaseisrestrictedbysuigenerisdatabaserights? Whatconstitutesa“substantialportion”ofadatabase? Ifmyuseofadatabaseisrestrictedbysuigenerisdatabaserights,howdoIcomplywiththelicense? ArtificialintelligenceandCClicenses WhatarethelimitsonhowCC-licensedworkscanbeusedinthedevelopmentofnewtechnologies,suchastrainingofartificialintelligencesoftware? Butwhataboutprivacylaws,rulesgoverningethicalresearch,anddataprotectionlaws? WhatattributionobligationsexistwhenCC-licensedimagesareincludedinapublisheddataset?IslinkingtotheoriginalimageorURIrequired,andifso,isitadequate? Ifafor-profitcompanyusesCC-licensedcontentunderaNonCommerciallicenseandreleasestheworkundertermsthatallowonlyresearchpurposes,istheNCrestrictionviolated? IfCCSA-licensedcontentisincludedinadatabase,doestheentiredatabasehavetobelicensedunderanSAlicense? What,ifany,remedies,dousershaveiftheydislikehowtheirphotosorimageshavebeenreused? Notes TheseFAQsaredesignedtoprovideabetterunderstandingofCreativeCommons,ourlicenses,andourotherlegalandtechnicaltools.Theyprovidebasicinformation,sometimesaboutfairlycomplextopics,andwilloftenlinktomoredetailedinformation. OtherCCFAQs:CC0PublicDomainDedicationandPublicDomainMark. “Licensor”,“rightsholder”,“owner”,and“creator”maybeusedinterchangeablytorefertothepersonorentityapplyingaCClicense. Informationaboutthelicensesisprimarilymadewithreferencetothe4.0suite,butearlierlicenseversionsarementionedwheretheydiffer. Haveaquestionthatisn’[email protected]. CreativeCommonsdoesnotprovidelegaladvice.ThisFAQisforinformationalpurposesandisnotasubstituteforlegaladvice.Itmaynotcoverimportantissuesthataffectyou.Youshouldconsultwithyourownlawyerifyouhavequestions. AboutCC WhatisCreativeCommonsandwhatdoyoudo? CreativeCommonsisaglobalnonprofitorganizationthatenablessharingandreuseofcreativityandknowledgethroughtheprovisionoffreelegaltools.Ourlegaltoolshelpthosewhowanttoencouragereuseoftheirworksbyofferingthemforuseundergenerous,standardizedterms;thosewhowanttomakecreativeusesofworks;andthosewhowanttobenefitfromthissymbiosis.Ourvisionistohelpothersrealizethefullpotentialoftheinternet.CChasaffiliatesallovertheworldwhohelpensureourlicensesworkinternationallyandwhoraiseawarenessofourwork. AlthoughCreativeCommonsisbestknownforitslicenses,ourworkextendsbeyondjustprovidingcopyrightlicenses.CCoffersotherlegalandtechnicaltoolsthatalsofacilitatesharinganddiscoveryofcreativeworks,suchasCC0,apublicdomaindedicationforrightsholderswhowishtoputtheirworkintothepublicdomainbeforetheexpirationofcopyright,andthePublicDomainMark,atoolformarkingaworkthatisintheworldwidepublicdomain.CreativeCommonslicensesandtoolsweredesignedspecificallytoworkwiththeweb,whichmakescontentthatisofferedundertheirtermseasytosearchfor,discover,anduse. FormoreinformationaboutCC,ourmainwebsitecontainsin-depthinformationabouttheorganization,itsstaffandboardofdirectors,itshistory,anditssupporters.YoucanalsoreadCCcasestudiestolearnaboutsomeoftheinspiringwaysCClicensesandtoolshavebeenusedtoshareworksandsupportinnovativebusinessmodels.YoucanfindregularlyupdatedinformationaboutCCbyvisitingtheblog. IsCreativeCommonsagainstcopyright? Absolutelynot.CChasrespondedtoclaimstothecontrary.CClicensesarecopyrightlicenses,anddependontheexistenceofcopyrighttowork.CClicensesarelegaltoolsthatcreatorsandotherrightsholderscanusetooffercertainusagerightstothepublic,whilereservingotherrights.ThosewhowanttomaketheirworkavailabletothepublicforlimitedkindsofuseswhilepreservingtheircopyrightmaywanttoconsiderusingCClicenses.OtherswhowanttoreservealloftheirrightsundercopyrightlawshouldnotuseCClicenses. Thatsaid,CreativeCommonsrecognizestheneedforchangeincopyrightlaw,andmanymembersoftheCreativeCommonscommunityareactiveparticipantsinthecopyrightreformmovement.Formoreinformation,seeourstatementinsupportofcopyrightreform. Whatdoes“SomeRightsReserved”mean? Copyrightgrantstocreatorsabundleofexclusiverightsovertheircreativeworks,whichgenerallyinclude,ataminimum,therighttoreproduce,distribute,display,andmakeadaptations.Thephrase“AllRightsReserved”isoftenusedbyownerstoindicatethattheyreservealloftherightsgrantedtothemunderthelaw.Whencopyrightexpires,theworkentersthepublicdomain,andtherightsholdercannolongerstopothersfromengaginginthoseactivitiesundercopyright,withtheexceptionofmoralrightsreservedtocreatorsinsomejurisdictions.CreativeCommonslicensesoffercreatorsaspectrumofchoicesbetweenretainingallrightsandrelinquishingallrights(publicdomain),anapproachwecall“SomeRightsReserved.” CanCreativeCommonsgivelegaladviceaboutitslicensesorothertools,orhelpwithCClicenseenforcement? No. CreativeCommonsisnotalawfirmanddoesnotprovidelegaladviceorlegalservices.CCissimilartoaself-helpservicethatoffersfree,form-basedlegaldocumentsforotherstouse.TheseFAQanswersmanyofthemostcommonquestions.Thereisalsospecializedinformationavailableonthefollowingpages: Markingpracticesforcreators Markingpracticesforreusers DataFAQ DifferencesbetweenCClicenseversions Differencesbetweenjurisdictionportsofearlierlicenseversions PublicdomainmarkFAQ CC0FAQ WhileCCdoesprovidethisinformationalguidanceaboutitslicensesandothertools,thisinformationmaynotapplytoyourparticularsituation,andshouldneverbetakenaslegaladvice. Ifyou’relookingforlegaladviceaboutusingCClicensesandothertools,werecommendcontactingtheCreativeCommonsaffiliateinyourjurisdiction.CCaffiliatesarehighlyconnectedtothecommunitiesofcopyrightlawyersintheircountries.WealsoofferalistoflawyersandorganizationswhohaveidentifiedthemselvesaswillingtoprovideinformationtoothersaboutCClicensingissues.However,pleasenotethatCCdoesnotprovidereferralservices,anddoesnotendorseorrecommendanypersononthatlist. DoesCreativeCommonscollectortrackmateriallicensedunderaCClicense? No,CCdoesnotcollectcontentortracklicensedmaterial.However,CCbuildstechnicaltoolsthathelpthepublicsearchforanduseworkslicensedunderourlicensesandotherlegaltools,andmanyothershavebuiltsuchtoolsaswell.CCSearchisonetooldevelopedbyCCtohelpthepublicdiscoverworksofferedunderCreativeCommonslicensesontheinternetviaCC-awaresearchenginesandrepositories. WhatdotheCreativeCommonsbuttonsdo? TheCCbuttonsareashorthandwaytoconveythebasicpermissionsassociatedwithmaterialofferedunderCClicenses.CreatorsandownerswhoapplyCClicensestotheirmaterialcandownloadandapplythosebuttonstocommunicatetousersthepermissionsgrantedinadvance.Whenthematerialisofferedonline,thebuttonsshouldusuallylinkouttothehuman-readablelicensedeeds(which,inturn,linktothelicenseitself). MayIusetheCreativeCommonslogoandbuttons? YoumaydownloadhighresolutionversionsoftheCreativeCommonslogosandusetheminconnectionwithyourworkoryourwebsite,providedyoucomplywithourpolicies.Amongotherthings,ifyouusethelogosonawebsiteoronyourwork,youmaynotalterthelogosinanyrespect—suchasbychangingthefont,theproportions,orthecolors.CC’sbuttons,name,andcorporatelogo(the“CC”inacircle)aretrademarksofCreativeCommons.Youcannotusetheminwaysnotpermittedbyourpoliciesunlessyoufirstreceiveexpress,writtenpermission.Thismeans,forexample,thatyoucannot(withoutourpermission)printyourownbuttonsandt-shirtsusingCClogos,althoughyoucanpurchasetheminCC’sstore. IloveCreativeCommons.HowcanIhelp? PleasesupportCCbymakingadonationthroughoursupportpage.DonationscanbehandledthroughPayPalorbycreditcard.YoucanalsosupportCCbyvisitingourstore. CCalwayswelcomesyourfeedback,whichyoucanprovidebyemailing.YoucanalsoparticipateinCC’semaildiscussionlistsandsharefeedbackandideasinoneofthoseforums. Ifyouareasoftwaredeveloper,sysadmin,orhaveothertechnicalexpertise,pleasejoinourdevelopercommunityandhelpbuildthetoolsthatbuildthecommons. Finally,oneofthebestwaystosupportCCisbysupportingourcausesyourself.Followourblogtofindoutaboutcurrentissueswhereyoucanhelpgetinvolvedandspreadtheword,andadvocateforfreeandopenlicensinginyourowncommunities. WhydoesCreativeCommonsrunanannualfundraisingcampaign?Whatisthemoneyusedforandwheredoesitgo? CreativeCommonsisaglobalnonprofitorganizationthatenablessharingandreuseofcreativityandknowledgethroughfreelegaltools,withaffiliatesallovertheworldwhohelpensureourlicensesworkinternationallyandraiseawarenessaboutourwork.Ourtoolsarefree,andourreachiswide. Inorderto… continuedevelopingourlicensesandpublicdomaintoolstomakesuretheyarelegallyandtechnicallyup-to-datearoundtheworld, helpcreatorsimplementthesetoolsonwebsitesthroughbestpracticesandindividualassistance, enableCClicensingonmajorcontent-sharingplatforms, enhanceCC-licensedresourcesearchanddiscovery, advocateforCClicensingandopenpoliciesineducation,science,andculture,and myriadotheractivitieswe’reforgettingtomention,suchasalltheeverydayboringbutessentialoperationsthatgointorunninganorganization …weneed$tomakeitallhappen!Formoreinformation,pleasetakealookatourAnnualReport. CreativeCommonshasalwaysreliedonthegenerosityofbothindividualsandorganizationstofunditsongoingoperations.Itisessentialwehavethepublic’ssupportbecauseitisthecreatorsandusersofCCmaterialwhomakeourtoolsrelevantinthisdigitalage.TheydependonthetoolsandservicesCCprovidesthroughtheirreuseandremixoftherich,openresourcesavailableonWikipedia,Flickr,SoundCloud,Vimeo,Europeana,MITOpenCourseWare,theLibraryofScience,AlJazeera,andYouTube—justtonameafew.Manyofthesepeopledonate$10,$25,or$50toCC,tohelpkeepitupandrunningsowecancontinuetoprovideourtoolsandservicesforfree,asanonprofitorganization.ThemorepeoplewhodonatetoCC,themoreindependentitwillremain. GeneralLicenseInformation WhatareCreativeCommonslicenses? CreativeCommonslicensesprovideaneasywaytomanagethecopyrighttermsthatattachautomaticallytoallcreativematerialundercopyright.Ourlicensesallowthatmaterialtobesharedandreusedundertermsthatareflexibleandlegallysound.CreativeCommonsoffersacoresuiteofsixcopyrightlicenses.Becausethereisnosingle“CreativeCommonslicense,”itisimportanttoidentifywhichofthesixlicensesyouareapplyingtoyourmaterial,whichofthesixlicenseshasbeenappliedtomaterialthatyouintendtouse,andinbothcasesthespecificversion. Allofourlicensesrequirethatusersprovideattribution(BY)tothecreatorwhenthematerialisusedandshared.SomelicensorschoosetheBYlicense,whichrequiresattributiontothecreatorastheonlyconditiontoreuseofthematerial.TheotherfivelicensescombineBYwithoneormoreofthreeadditionallicenseelements:NonCommercial(NC),whichprohibitscommercialuseofthematerial;NoDerivatives(ND),whichprohibitsthesharingofadaptationsofthematerial;andShareAlike(SA),whichrequiresadaptationsofthematerialbereleasedunderthesamelicense. CClicensesmaybeappliedtoanytypeofwork,includingeducationalresources,music,photographs,databases,governmentandpublicsectorinformation,andmanyothertypesofmaterial.TheonlycategoriesofworksforwhichCCdoesnotrecommenditslicensesarecomputersoftwareandhardware.YoushouldalsonotapplyCreativeCommonslicensestoworksthatarenolongerprotectedbycopyrightorareotherwiseinthepublicdomain.Instead,forthoseworksintheworldwidepublicdomain,werecommendthatyoumarkthemwiththePublicDomainMark. HowdoCClicensesoperate? CClicensesareoperativeonlywhenappliedtomaterialinwhichacopyrightexists,andeventhenonlywhenaparticularusewouldotherwisenotbepermittedbycopyright.NotethatthelatestversionofCClicensesalsoappliestorightssimilartocopyright,suchasneighboringrightsandsuigenerisdatabaserights.Learnmoreaboutthescopeofthelicenses.ThismeansthatCClicensetermsandconditionsarenottriggeredbyusespermittedunderanyapplicableexceptionsandlimitationstocopyright,nordolicensetermsandconditionsapplytoelementsofalicensedworkthatareinthepublicdomain.ThisalsomeansthatCClicensesdonotcontractuallyimposerestrictionsonusesofaworkwherethereisnounderlyingcopyright.Thisfeature(andothers)distinguishCClicensesfromsomeotheropenlicensesliketheODbLandODC-BY,bothofwhichareintendedtoimposecontractualconditionsandrestrictionsonthereuseofdatabasesinjurisdictionswherethereisnounderlyingcopyrightorsuigenerisdatabaseright. AllCClicensesarenon-exclusive:creatorsandownerscanenterintoadditional,differentlicensingarrangementsforthesamematerialatanytime(oftenreferredtoas“dual-licensing”or“multi-licensing”).However,CClicensesarenotrevocableoncegrantedunlesstherehasbeenabreach,andeventhenthelicenseisterminatedonlyforthebreachinglicensee. PleasenotethatCC0isnotalicense;itisapublicdomaindedication.WhenCC0isappliedtoawork,copyrightnolongerappliestotheworkinmostjurisdictionsaroundtheworld.Therefore,referencestoduallicensingarrangementsliketheoneaboveareinapplicabletoCC0. TherearealsovideosandcomicsthatoffervisualdescriptionsofhowCClicenseswork. WhichisthelatestversionofthelicensesofferedbyCreativeCommons? InNovember2013,CreativeCommonspublishedtheversion4.0licensesuite.Theselicensesarethemostup-to-datelicensesofferedbyCC,andarerecommendedoverallpriorversions.Youcanseehowthelicenseshavebeenimprovedovertimeonthelicenseversionspage.4.0hasbeendraftedtobeinternationallyvalid,andwillhaveofficialtranslationsbecomingavailableafterpublication. DoCreativeCommonslicensesaffectexceptionsandlimitationstocopyright,suchasfairdealingandfairuse? No. Bydesign,CClicensesdonotreduce,limit,orrestrictanyrightsunderexceptionsandlimitationstocopyright,suchasfairuseorfairdealing.IfyouruseofCC-licensedmaterialwouldotherwisebeallowedbecauseofanapplicableexceptionorlimitation,youdonotneedtorelyontheCClicenseorcomplywithitstermsandconditions.ThisisafundamentalprincipleofCClicensing. WhogivespermissiontousematerialofferedunderCreativeCommonslicenses? Ourlicensesandlegaltoolsareintendedforusebyanyonewhoholdscopyrightinthematerial.Thisisoften,butnotalways,thecreator. CreativeCommonsofferslicensesandtoolstothepublicfreeofchargeanddoesnotrequirethatcreatorsorotherrightsholdersregisterwithCCinordertoapplyaCClicensetoawork.ThismeansthatCCdoesnothavespecialknowledgeofwhousesthelicensesandforwhatpurposes,nordoesCChaveawaytocontactcreatorsbeyondmeansgenerallyavailabletothepublic.CChasnoauthoritytograntpermissiononbehalfofthosepersons,nordoesCCmanagethoserightsonbehalfofothers. Ifyouwouldliketoobtainadditionalpermissionstousetheworkbeyondthosegrantedbythelicensethathasbeenapplied,orifyou’renotsureifyourintendeduseispermittedbythelicense,youshouldcontacttherightsholder. AreCreativeCommonslicensesenforceableinacourtoflaw? CreativeCommonslicensesaredraftedtobeenforceablearoundtheworld,andhavebeenenforcedincourtinvariousjurisdictions.ToCC’sknowledge,thelicenseshaveneverbeenheldunenforceableorinvalid. CClicensescontaina“severability”clause.Thisallowsacourttoeliminateanyprovisiondeterminedtobeunenforceable,andenforcetheremainingprovisionsofthelicense. WhathappensifsomeoneappliesaCreativeCommonslicensetomyworkwithoutmyknowledgeorauthorization? CCalertsprospectivelicensorstheyneedtohaveallnecessaryrightsbeforeapplyingaCClicensetoawork.IfthatisnotthecaseandsomeonehasmarkedyourworkwithaCClicensewithoutyourauthorization,youshouldcontactthatpersonandtellthemtoremovethelicensefromyourwork.Youmayalsowishtocontactalawyer.CreativeCommonsisnotalawfirmandcannotrepresentyouorgiveyoulegaladvice,buttherearelawyerswhohaveidentifiedthemselvesasinterestedinrepresentingpeopleinCC-relatedmatters. Whataretheinternational(“unported”)CreativeCommonslicenses,andwhydoesCCoffer“ported”licenses? OneofCC’sgoalsisensuringthatallofitslegaltoolsworkglobally,sothatanyoneanywhereintheworldcansharetheirworkongloballystandardterms.Tothisend,CCoffersacoresuiteofsixinternationalcopyrightlicenses(formerlycalledthe“unported”)thataredraftedbasedlargelyonvariousinternationaltreatiesgoverningcopyright,takingintoaccountasmanyjurisdiction-specificlegalissuesaspossible.Thelatestversion(4.0)hasbeendraftedwithparticularattentiontotheneedsofinternationalenforceability. Forversion3.0andearlier,CreativeCommonshasalsoofferedportedversionsofitssixcorelicensesformanyjurisdictions(whichusuallycorrespondtocountries,butnotalways).Theseportedlicensesarebasedontheinternationallicensesuitebuthavebeenmodifiedtoreflectlocalnuancesintheexpressionoflegaltermsandconditions,draftingprotocols,andlanguage.Theportedlicensesandtheinternationallicensesareallintendedtobelegallyeffectiveeverywhere.CCexpectsthatfew,ifany,portswillbenecessaryfor4.0. CCrecommendsthatyoutakeadvantageoftheimprovementsinthe4.0suiteexplainedonthelicenseversionspageunlessthereareparticularconsiderationsyouareawareofthatwouldrequireaportedlicense. CanIincludeaworklicensedwithCCBYinaWikipediaarticleeventhoughtheyuseaCCBY-SAlicense? Yes.WorkslicensedunderCCBYmaybeincorporatedintoworksthatarelicensedunderCCBY-SA.Forexample,youmayincorporateaCCBYphotographintoaWikipediaarticlesolongasyoukeepallcopyrightnoticesintact,provideproperattribution,andotherwisecomplywiththetermsofCCBY.Learnmoreaboutthelicenses. Cangovernmentsandintergovernmentalorganizations(“IGOs”)useCClicenses? Yes,anyonemayuseCClicensesformaterialtheyown,includinggovernmentsandIGOs,andtheseinstitutionsfrequentlyuseCClicensesontheircopyrightablematerial.Thereasonsfordoingsovary,andoftenincludeadesiretomaximizetheimpactandutilityofworksforeducationalandinformationalpurposes,andtoenhancetransparency. CreativeCommonslicenseshavedesirablefeaturesthatmakethemthepreferredchoiceovercustomlicenses.CClicensesarestandardandinteroperable,whichmeansmaterialpublishedbydifferentcreatorsusingthesametypeofCClicensecanbetranslated,modified,compiled,andremixedwithoutlegalbarriersdependingontheparticularlicenseapplied.CreativeCommonslicensesarealsomachine-readable,allowingCC-licensedworkstobeeasilydiscoveredviasearchenginessuchasGoogle.Thesefeaturesmaximizedistribution,reuse,andimpactofworkspublishedbygovernmentsandIGOs. Thoughweencourageanyonetouseversion4.0,whichisinternationallyvalidandmaybeusedbyindividualsaswellasorganizations,thereisanIGOportedversionof3.0thatIGOsmayalsouse.ReadmoreabouthowgovernmentsandIGOsuseandleverageCClicensesandlegaltools,considerationsforusingourlicenses,andhowtheyoperateintheIGOcontext. CanchildrenapplyCreativeCommonslicensestoworktheycreate? Thisissuedependslargelyonthelawsinplacewherethechildlives.IntheUnitedStates,childrencanbecopyrightholdersandareentitledtolicensetheirworksinthesamemannerasadults.However,theymayhavetherighttodisaffirmcertaintypesoflegalagreements,includinglicenses.InmanypartsoftheUnitedStates,forexample,childrenhavetheabilitytodisaffirmsometypesofagreementsundercertaincircumstancesoncetheyreachtheagewheretheyareconsideredadultswithintherelevantjurisdiction.WeareunawareofanyattemptbyalicensortoexercisethedisaffirmationrightwithrespecttoaCClicenseappliedtoawork. WhataretheofficialtranslationsoftheCClicensesandCC0? Officiallanguagetranslationswillbeavailableforthe4.0licensesandCC0.Whenyoulicenseyourownwork,youmayuseorlinktothetextofanyavailableofficialtranslation.WhenyoureuseCC-licensedmaterial,youmaycomplywiththelicenseconditionsbyreferringtoanyavailableofficialtranslationofthelicense.ThesetranslationsarelinguistictranslationsoftheEnglishversionwhichadhereascloselyaspossibletotheoriginaltext.ThesetranslationshavebeendonebyouraffiliatesinaccordancewiththeLegalCodeTranslationPolicyandwiththeoversightanddetailedreviewoftheCClegalteam.NotethattheseareequivalentsoftheoriginalEnglish;thesetranslationsarenotjurisdictionportedversions.Youmayfindalistofallavailabletranslationshere. Forversions3.0andearlier,officialtranslationsarenotavailable.Someunofficialtranslationsweremadeforinformationalpurposesonly.(Jurisdictionportedversionsofversion3.0andearlierweregenerallypublishedintheofficiallanguage(s)oftheappropriatejurisdiction.However,theportedlicensesarenotequivalenttotheinternationallicenses,anddonotserveassubstitutablereferencesforpurposesofcomplyingwiththetermsandconditionsofthelicenses.) WhatisaBY-SACompatibleLicense? ABY-SACompatibleLicenseisalicenseofficiallydesignatedbyCreativeCommonspursuanttotheShareAlikecompatibilityprocess.OncedeemedaBY-SACompatibleLicense,youmayusethelicensetopublishyourcontributionstoanadaptationofaBY-SAwork.ToseethelistofBY-SACompatibleLicenses,clickhere.LearnmoreaboutShareAlikecompatibilityhere. ForLicensors Choosingalicense WhatthingsshouldIthinkaboutbeforeIapplyaCreativeCommonslicense? ApplyingaCreativeCommonslicensetoyourmaterialisaseriousdecision.WhenyouapplyaCClicense,yougivepermissiontoanyonetouseyourmaterialforthefulldurationofapplicablecopyrightandsimilarrights. CChasidentifiedsomethingsthatyoushouldconsiderbeforeyouapplyaCClicense,someofwhichrelatetoyourabilitytoapplyaCClicenseatall.Herearesomehighlights: Isthematerialcopyrightable?Ifnot,isitsubjecttoneighboringrightsorsuigenerisdatabaserights?CClicensesdonotapplytomaterialinthepublicdomain.Differentcountrieshavedifferentstandardsforwhatisinthepublicdomain. Doyouownthematerialyouwanttolicense?Ifnot,areyouotherwiseauthorizedtolicenseitunderthespecificCClicenseyouareinterestedinusing?Youshouldnotapplyalicensetomaterialthatyoudonotownorthatyouarenotauthorizedtolicense. AreyouawarethatCClicensesarenotrevocable?YouarefreetostopofferingmaterialunderaCClicenseatanytime,butthiswillnotaffecttherightsassociatedwithanycopiesofyourworkalreadyincirculation.(Anyparticularlicenseemaylosehisorherrightsafterviolatingthelicense,butthisdoesnotaffectcontinualuseoftheworkbyotherlicensees.) Areyouamemberofacollectingsociety?Ifyouare,youshouldmakesurethatyouareabletouseCClicensesforyourmaterials. Alwaysreadthetermsandconditionsofthespecificlicenseyouplantoapply.Additionally,thereareseveraltermsthatmaydifferintheearlierversionsofthelicense,bothunportedandported.Ifyouchoosetouseapre-4.0versionoranyportedversion,clausessuchaschoiceoflawmayaffectyourdesiredchoiceoflicense. HowshouldIdecidewhichlicensetochoose? Ifyouareunsurewhichlicensebestsuitsyourneeds,thereareplentyofresourcestohelprightsholderschoosetherightCClicense.CCAustraliahasdevelopedaflowchartthatmaybeusefulinhelpingyousettleontherightlicenseforyourwork.YoucanalsoreadcasestudiesofotherswhoareusingCClicenses.TheCCcommunitycanalsorespondtoquestions,andmayhavealreadyaddressedissuesyouraise.TheCCcommunityemaildiscussionlistsanddiscussionarchivesmaybeusefulresources. Finally,youmayalsowanttoconsultwithalawyertoobtainadviceonthebestlicenseforyourneeds. WhyshouldIusethelatestversionoftheCreativeCommonslicenses? ThelatestversionoftheCreativeCommonslicensesisversion4.0.YoushouldalwaysusethelatestversionoftheCreativeCommonslicensesinordertotakeadvantageofthemanyimprovementsdescribedonthelicenseversionspage.Inparticular,4.0ismeanttobebettersuitedtointernationaluse,anduseinmanydifferentcontexts,includingsharingdata. WhatifCClicenseshavenotbeenportedtomyjurisdiction? AllCClicensesareintendedtoworkworldwide.Unlessyouhaveaspecificreasontouseaportedlicense,wesuggestyouconsiderusingoneoftheinternationallicenses.4.0willsupportofficialtranslationsoftheinternationallicenseforthosewhowishtousethelicensesinanotherlanguage. Asofversion4.0,CCisdiscouragingportedversions,andhasplacedaholdonnewportingprojectsfollowingitspublicationuntilsometimein2014.Atthatpoint,CCwillreevaluatethenecessityofportinginthefuture. ShouldIchooseaninternationallicenseoraportedlicense? Werecommendthatyouuseaversion4.0internationallicense.Thisisthemostup-to-dateversionofourlicenses,draftedafterbroadconsultationwithourglobalnetworkofaffiliates,andithasbeenwrittentobeinternationallyvalid.Therearecurrentlynoportsof4.0,anditisplannedthatfew,ifany,willbecreated. Alloftheportedlicensesareatversion3.0orearlier,whichmeanslicensorsusingthoselicensesdonothavethebenefitoftheimprovementsmadeinthe4.0licensesuite.Butevenbeforeconsideringtheimprovementsin4.0,thereareseveralreasonswhytheinternationallicensesmaybepreferableforrightsholders,evenifthelicenseshavebeenportedtotheirjurisdiction.Asanorganization,CCitselflicensesallofitsowncontentunderaninternationallicensebecause,amongotherreasons,theinternationallicensesareessentiallyjurisdiction-neutralwhileremainingeffectiveglobally.Theneutralnatureoftheinternationallicensesappealstomanypeopleandorganizations,particularlyforuseinconnectionwithglobalprojectsthattranscendpoliticalborders.Finally,itisimportanttoknowthatsomeoftheportedlicensescontainachoiceoflawprovision,whichmaybeundesirableforyourneeds. However,somerightsholdersstillchoosealicenseportedtotheirlocaljurisdictionbecausetheybelievetheirneedsarenotsufficientlymetbytheinternationallicenses.Ifthelicenseshavebeenportedtoyourjurisdictionandyoufeelthattheportedlicensesbetteraccountforsomeaspectoflocallegislation,thenyoumaywishtoconsideraportedlicense. Youcanuseourjurisdictiondatabasetocompareinternationallicensesandportsontheseissuesandothers,suchaswhetheraportedlicensecontainsachoiceoflaworforumselectionclause. WhyshouldIusethelicensechooser?WhatifIdon’t? LicensorsarenotrequiredtousetheCClicensechooserorprovideanyinformationaboutthemselvesortheirmaterialwhenapplyingaCClicensetotheirmaterial.However,usingthelicensechooserenableslicensorstotakeadvantageofthe“machinereadable”layerofCClicenses.Ourmachine-readablecodeenhancesthediscoverabilityofyourworkbecausethatcodeallowssoftware,searchengines,andothertoolstorecognizewhensomethingislicensedunderaCClicense.Thecodealsofacilitatesattribution:whenusersclickontheCCbuttonplacedonyoursite,theywillbelinkeddirectlytoHTMLcodethattheycancutandpastetoprovideattribution. HowdoIapplyaCreativeCommonslicensetomymaterial? Foronlinematerial:SelectthelicensethatisappropriateforyourmaterialfromtheCClicensechooserandthenfollowtheinstructionstoincludetheHTMLcode.ThecodewillautomaticallygeneratealicensebuttonandastatementthatyourmaterialislicensedunderaCClicense.Ifyouareonlylicensingpartofawork(forexample,ifyouhavecreatedavideounderaCClicensebutareusingasongunderadifferentlicense),besuretoclearlymarkwhichpartsareundertheCClicenseandwhichpartsarenot.TheHTMLcodewillalsoincludemetadata,whichallowsthematerialtobediscoveredviaCreativeCommons-enabledsearchengines. Forofflinematerial:Identifywhichlicenseyouwishtoapplytoyourworkandeither(a)markyourworkwithastatementsuchas,“ThisworkislicensedundertheCreativeCommons[insertdescription]License.Toviewacopyofthelicense,visit[inserturl]”;or(b)inserttheapplicablelicensebuttonswiththesamestatementandURLlink. Forthird-partyplatforms:ManymediaplatformslikeFlickr,YouTube,andSoundCloudhavebuilt-inCreativeCommonscapabilities,lettingusersmarktheirmaterialwithaCClicensethroughtheiraccountsettings.ThebenefitofusingthisfunctionalityisthatitallowsotherpeopletofindyourcontentwhensearchingonthoseplatformsforCC-licensedmaterial.Iftheplatformwhereyou’reuploadingyourcontentdoesnotsupportCClicensing,youcanstillidentifyyourcontentasCC-licensedinthetextdescriptionofyourcontent. Legally,thesethreeoptionsarethesame.TheonlydifferencebetweenapplyingaCClicenseofflineratherthanonlineisthatmarkingaworkonlinewithmetadatawillensurethatuserswillbeabletofinditthroughCC-enabledsearchengines. CCoffersresourcesonthebestpracticesformarkingyourmaterialandonhowtomarkmaterialindifferentmedia(.pdf). DoIneedtoregisterwithCreativeCommonsbeforeIobtainalicense? No. CCoffersitslicenses,code,andtoolstothepublicfreeofcharge,withoutobligation.YoudonotneedtoregisterwithCreativeCommonstoapplyaCClicensetoyourmaterial;itislegallyvalidassoonasyouapplyittoanymaterialyouhavethelegalrighttolicense. CCdoesnotrequireorprovideanymeansforcreatorsorotherrightsholderstoregisteruseofaCClicense,nordoesCCmaintainadatabaseofworksdistributedunderCreativeCommonslicenses.CCalsodoesnotrequireregistrationoftheworkwithanationalcopyrightagency. WhatdothetermsandconditionsofaCClicenseapplyto? AlthoughCClicensesgetattachedtotangibleworks(suchasphotosandnovels),thelicensetermsandconditionsapplytothelicensor’scopyrightinthelicensedmaterial.Thepublicisgranted“permissiontoexercise”thoserightsinanymediumorformat.Itistheexpressionthatisprotectedbycopyrightandcoveredbythelicenses,notanyparticularmediumorformatinwhichtheexpressionismanifested.Thismeans,forexample,thataCClicenseappliedtoadigitizedcopyofanovelgrantsthepublicpermissionundercopyrighttouseaprintversionofthesamenovelonthesametermsandconditions(thoughyoumayhavetopurchasetheprintversionfromabookstore). CanIapplyaCreativeCommonslicensetosoftware? WerecommendagainstusingCreativeCommonslicensesforsoftware.Instead,westronglyencourageyoutouseoneoftheverygoodsoftwarelicenseswhicharealreadyavailable.WerecommendconsideringlicenseslistedasfreebytheFreeSoftwareFoundationandlistedas“opensource”bytheOpenSourceInitiative. Unlikesoftware-specificlicenses,CClicensesdonotcontainspecifictermsaboutthedistributionofsourcecode,whichisoftenimportanttoensuringthefreereuseandmodifiabilityofsoftware.Manysoftwarelicensesalsoaddresspatentrights,whichareimportanttosoftwarebutmaynotbeapplicabletoothercopyrightableworks.Additionally,ourlicensesarecurrentlynotcompatiblewiththemajorsoftwarelicenses,soitwouldbedifficulttointegrateCC-licensedworkwithotherfreesoftware.ExistingsoftwarelicensesweredesignedspecificallyforusewithsoftwareandofferasimilarsetofrightstotheCreativeCommonslicenses. Version4.0ofCC’sAttribution-ShareAlike(BY-SA)licenseisone-waycompatiblewiththeGNUGeneralPublicLicenseversion3.0(GPLv3).Thiscompatibilitymechanismisdesignedforsituationsinwhichcontentisintegratedintosoftwarecodeinawaythatmakesitdifficultorimpossibletodistinguishthetwo.Therearespecialconsiderationsrequiredbeforeusingthiscompatibilitymechanism.Readmoreaboutithere. Also,theCC0PublicDomainDedicationisGPL-compatibleandacceptableforsoftware.Fordetails,seetherelevantCC0FAQentry. WhilewerecommendagainstusingaCClicenseonsoftwareitself,CClicensesmaybeusedforsoftwaredocumentation,aswellasforseparateartisticelementssuchasgameartormusic. CanIapplyaCreativeCommonslicensetodatabases? Yes.CClicensescanbeusedondatabases.Inthe4.0licensesuite,applicablesuigenerisdatabaserightsarelicensedunderthesamelicenseconditionsascopyright.ManygovernmentsandothersuseCClicensesfordataanddatabases. FormoredetailedinformationabouthowCClicensesapplytodataanddatabases,visitourdetailedDataFAQ. CouldIuseaCClicensetosharemylogoortrademark? CreativeCommonsdoesnotrecommendusingaCClicenseonalogoortrademark.Whilealogoortrademarkcanbecoveredbycopyrightlawsinadditiontotrademarklaws,thespecialpurposesoftrademarksmakeCClicensesanunsuitablemechanismforsharingtheminmostcases.Generally,logosandtrademarksareusedtoidentifytheoriginofaproductorservice,ortoindicatethatitmeetsaspecificstandardorquality.Allowinganyonetoreuseormodifyyourlogoortrademarkasamatterofcopyrightcouldresultinyourinabilitytolimituseofyourlogoortrademarkselectivelytoaccomplishthosepurposes.ApplyingaCClicensetoyourtrademarksandlogoscouldevenresultinalossofyourtrademarkrightsaltogether.Seebelowformoreabouthowtolicensematerialthatincludesatrademarkorlogo. Thereareotherwaystoshareyourlogosandtrademarkswidelywhilepreservingyourtrademarkrights.Establishingatrademarkpolicythatgrantspermissionsinadvanceforlimitedusesisonecommonalternative.Mozilla,Wikimedia,andCreativeCommonshaveeachpublishedpoliciesthataccomplishthedualobjectivesofencouragingreuseandpreservingtrademarkrights. MayIapplyaCreativeCommonslicensetoaworkinthepublicdomain? CClicensesshouldnotbeappliedtoworksintheworldwidepublicdomain.AllCClicensesareclearthattheydonothavetheeffectofplacingrestrictionsonmaterialthatwouldotherwisebeunrestricted,andyoucannotremoveaworkfromthepublicdomainbyapplyingaCClicensetoit.Ifyouwanttodedicateyourownworktothepublicdomainbeforetheexpirationofapplicablecopyrightorsimilarrights,useCC’slegallyrobustpublicdomaindedication.Ifaworkisalreadyintheworldwidepublicdomain,youshouldmarkitwithCC’sPublicDomainMark. Notethat,insomecases,aworkmaybeinthepublicdomainunderthecopyrightlawsofsomejurisdictionsbutnotothers.Forexample,U.S.governmentworksareinthepublicdomainunderthecopyrightlawoftheUnitedStates,butmaybeprotectedbycopyrightlawsinotherjurisdictions.ACClicenseappliedtosuchaworkwouldbeeffective(andthelicenserestrictionsenforceable)injurisdictionswherecopyrightprotectionexists,butwouldnotbeoperativeifU.S.copyrightlawisdeterminedtobetheapplicablelaw. CreatorsmayalsoapplyCreativeCommonslicensestomaterialtheycreatethatareadaptedfrompublicdomainworks,ortoremixedmaterial,databases,orcollectionsthatincludeworkinthepublicdomain.However,ineachoftheseinstances,thelicensedoesnotaffectpartsoftheworkthatareunrestrictedbycopyrightorsimilarrights.Westronglyencourageyoutomarkthepublicdomainmaterial,sothatothersknowtheyarealsofreetousethismaterialwithoutlegalrestriction. IfItakeaphotographofanotherworkthatisinthepublicdomain,canIapplyaCClicensetomyphoto? Thatdepends.YoucanapplyaCClicensetoyourphotographifyourphotographconstitutesaworkoforiginalauthorship,aquestionthatvariesbyjurisdiction.Asageneralmatter,yourphotographmustinvolvesomecreativechoices,suchasbackgroundsetting,lighting,angle,orothermarkofcreativity.IntheUnitedStates,anexactphotographiccopyofapublicdomainworkisnotsubjecttocopyrightbecausethereisnooriginality(evenifthereiseffortor“sweat”exertedinitscreation). Inpractice,ifyourphotographissufficientlycreativetoattractcopyrightprotection,peoplewilllikelyhavetocomplywiththelicenseconditionsiftheyreproduceyourentirephotographinverbatimform,absentsomeapplicableexceptionorlimitationsuchasfairuse.However,theywouldnothavetocomplywiththelicenseconditionsiftheyreproduceonlythosepartsoftheworkinthepublicdomain.Thisisbecauseyourcopyrightintheadaptationonlyextendstothematerialyoucontributed,nottotheunderlyingwork. MayIapplyaCClicensetomyworkifitincorporatesmaterialusedunderfairuseoranotherexceptionorlimitationtocopyright? Yes,butitisimportanttoprominentlymarkanythirdpartymaterialyouincorporateintoyourworksoreusersdonotthinktheCClicenseappliestothatmaterial.TheCClicenseonlyappliestotherightsyouhaveinthework.Forexample,ifyourCC-licensedslidedeckincludesaFlickrimageyouareusingpursuanttofairuse,makesuretoidentifythatimageasnotbeingsubjecttotheCClicense.Formoreinformationaboutincorporatingworkownedbyothers,seeourpageaboutmarkingthirdpartycontent.Readmoreconsiderationsforlicensorshere. Rightsotherthancopyright CanIuseCClicensestolicenserightsotherthancopyright? CClicensesarecopyrightlicenses,butthelatestversionofCClicensesalsocovercertainotherrightssimilartocopyright,includingperformance,broadcast,andsoundrecordingrights,aswellassuigenerisdatabaserights.Youmayapplya4.0licensetomaterialsubjecttoanyofthoserights,whetherornotthematerialisalsosubjecttocopyright.NotethatthescopeofpriorversionsofCClicenseswasmorelimited.Youshouldrefertoourlicenseversionspagefordetails. HowdoCreativeCommonslicensesaffectmymoralrights,ifatall? Asageneralmatter,allCClicensespreservemoralrightstotheextenttheyexist(theydonotexisteverywhere),butallowusesoftheworkinwayscontemplatedbythelicensethatmightotherwiseviolatemoralrights.Ifyouapplya4.0licensetoyourmaterial,youagreetowaiveornotassertanymoralrightsyouhave,tothelimitedextentnecessarytoallowthepublictoexercisethelicensedrights.Thisisdesignedtominimizetheeffectofmoralrightsonlicensees’abilitytousethework,andensurethatthelicenseworksinternationallyasintended.Theattributionrequirementcontainedinallofourlicensesisintendedtosatisfythemoralrightofattribution,butitmustbeadheredtowhetherornottheapplicablejurisdictionrecognizesmoralrights. Earlierversionsofthelicensearealsointendedtominimizetheeffectofmoralrightsonotherwise-permitteduses,butthelanguageinthelicensesdiffers.Additionally,jurisdictionportsofearlierversionsofCClicensesoftencontainversionsofthemoralrightslanguagedesignedtoaccountformoralrightslegislationinaparticularjurisdiction.Ifyouareapplyingaportedlicensetoyourwork,youmaywishtoreviewthemoralrightslanguageintheparticularlicense. Youcanalsocomparehowdifferentjurisdictionshaveimplementedthisprovision,orbrowsethelicenseversionspagetocomparethetreatmentofthisissueacrossthedifferentversionsoftheCClicenses. CanIoffermaterialunderaCClicensethathasmytrademarkonitwithoutalsolicensingoraffectingrightsinthetrademark? Yes,youmayoffermaterialunderaCreativeCommonslicensethatincludesatrademarkindicatingthesourceoftheworkwithoutaffectingrightsinthetrademark,becausetrademarkrightsarenotlicensedbytheCClicenses.However,applyingtheCClicensemaycreateanimpliedlicensetousethetrademarkinconnectionwiththelicensedmaterial,althoughnotinwaysthatrequirepermissionundertrademarklaw.Toavoidanyuncertainty,CreativeCommonsrecommendsthatlicensorswhowishtomarkmaterialwithtrademarksorotherbrandingmaterialsgivenoticetolicensorsexpresslydisclaimingapplicationofthelicensetothoseelements.Thiscanbedoneinthecopyrightnotice,butcouldalsobenotedonthewebsitewheretheworkispublished. Thefollowingisanexamplenotice: “ThetextofandillustrationsinthisdocumentarelicensedbyRedHatunderaCreativeCommonsAttribution–ShareAlike3.0Unportedlicense(”CC-BY-SA”)....RedHat,RedHatEnterpriseLinux,theShadowmanlogo,JBoss,MetaMatrix,Fedora,theInfinityLogo,andRHCEaretrademarksofRedHat,Inc.,registeredintheUnitedStatesandothercountries.ForguidelinesonthepermittedusesoftheFedoratrademarks,refertohttps://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Legal:Trademark_guidelines.” Howarepublicity,privacy,andpersonalityrightsaffectedwhenIapplyaCClicense? Whenyouapplythelatestversion(4.0)ofaCClicensetoyourmaterial,youalsoagreetowaiveornotassertanypublicity,privacy,orpersonalityrightsthatyouholdinthematerialyouarelicensing,tothelimitedextentnecessaryforotherstoexercisethelicensedrights.Forexample,ifyouhavelicensedaphotographofyourself,youmaynotassertyourrightofprivacytohavethephotoremovedfromfurtherdistribution.(Underthe3.0andearlierlicenses,thisisimpliedbutnotexplicit.)Ifyoudonotwishtolicensetheserightsinthisway,youshouldnotapplyaCClicensetothematerialwherethisisaconcern. Ifthereareanythirdpartieswhomayhavepublicity,privacy,orpersonalityrightsthatapply,thoserightsarenotaffectedbyyourapplicationofaCClicense,andareusermustseekpermissionforrelevantuses.Ifyouareawareofanysuchthirdpartyrightsinthematerialyouarelicensing,werecommendmarkingthematerialtogivenoticetoreusers. Whatisthedifferencebetweenplagiarismandcopyrightinfringement?AndwhatroledoCClicensesplaytoaddressplagiarism? Plagiarisminvolvesthecopyingofsomeoneelse’screationorideasandpassingthemoffasone’sownwithoutattributiontotheoriginalauthor.Plagiarismisgenerallyamatterofethicsandisdealtwithprimarilythroughsocialnorms,ethicspolicies,academicstandards,andcodesofconduct.Plagiarismwillusuallygiverisetoprofessionaloracademicsanctions,andwillnotnecessarilybethesubjectoflegalproceedings. Copyrightinfringementisamatteroflawandwillgiverisetolegalsanctions.Anactionmaybeconsideredplagiarismbutnotcopyrightinfringementandviceversa,orbothatthesametime.Forexample,copyingpartofatextandnotcreditingtheauthorcouldbeconsideredplagiarisminanacademiccontext,butnotcopyrightinfringementifthereproductionisallowedunderanexceptionorifthetextisinthepublicdomain(subjecttotheapplicationofmoralrights).Conversely,copyingpartofatextwithoutauthorizationandwithoutbenefitingfromanexceptionbutwithcorrectlycreditingtheauthorcouldbecopyrightinfringementbutnotplagiarism. CreativeCommonslicensesarenotdesignedtoaddressissuesthatfalloutsidethescopeofcopyrightlaw,although,whenthelicenseswerefirstdeveloped,CreativeCommonsexpectedthattheattributionrequirementwouldcontributetoreducinginstancesofplagiarism.Regardless,activitiessuchasplagiarismarenotdirectlygovernedbytheapplicationofCClicenses.Thatsaid,theattributionrequirementandtheobligationtoindicatemodificationsmadetoaworkcanalleviateauthors’concernsoverplagiarismandservetoassistintheenforcementofattributionandcitationinthescholarlyandacademiccontexts. Formoreinformation,readourblogpostWhySharingAcademicPublicationsUnder“NoDerivatives”LicensesisMisguided. Businessmodels CanIapplyaCClicensetolow-resolutioncopiesofalicensedworkandreservemorerightsinhigh-resolutioncopies? Youmaylicenseyourcopyrightordistributeyourworkundermorethanonesetofterms.Forexample,youmaypublishaphotographonyourwebsite,butonlydistributehigh-resolutioncopiestopeoplewhohavepaidforaccess.ThisisapracticeCCsupports.However,ifthelow-resolutionandhigh-resolutioncopiesarethesameworkunderapplicablecopyrightlaw,permissionunderaCClicenseisnotlimitedtoaparticularcopy,andsomeonewhoreceivesacopyinhighresolutionmayuseitunderthetermsoftheCClicenseappliedtothelow-resolutioncopy. Notethat,althoughCCstronglydiscouragesthepractice,CCcannotpreventlicensorsfromattemptingtoimposerestrictionsthroughseparateagreementsonusesthelicenseotherwisewouldallow.Inthatcase,licenseesmaybecontractuallyrestrictedfromusingthehigh-resolutioncopy,forexample,evenifthelicensorhasplacedaCClicenseonthelow-resolutioncopy. CanIuseaCreativeCommonslicenseifIamamemberofacollectingsociety? CreatorsandotherrightsholdersmaywishtocheckwiththeircollectingsocietybeforeapplyingaCClicensetotheirmaterial.Manyrightsholderswhoaremembersofacollectingsocietycanwaivetherighttocollectroyaltiesforusesallowedunderthelicense,butonlytotheextenttheirsocietiesallow. CollectingsocietiesinseveralcountriesincludingAustralia,Finland,France,Germany,Luxembourg,Norway,Spain,Taiwan,andtheNetherlandstakeanassignmentofrightsfromcreatorsinpresentandfutureworksandmanagethem,sothatthesocietieseffectivelybecometheowneroftheserights.(InFranceitiscalleda“mandate”ofrightsbuthassimilarpracticaleffect.)CreatorsinthesejurisdictionswhobelongtocollectingsocietiesmaynotbeabletolicensetheirmaterialunderCClicensesbecausethecollectingsocietiesownthenecessaryrights,notthecreators.CCisworkingwithseveralcollectingsocietiesandrunningpilotprogramsthatallowcreatorstouseCClicensesinsomecircumstances. IfyouarealreadyamemberofacollectingsocietyandwanttouseCClicenses,youarewelcometoencourageyourcollectingsocietytogiveyoutheoptionofCreativeCommonslicensing. CanIstillmakemoneyfromaworkImakeavailableunderaCreativeCommonslicense? Yes.Oneofourgoalsistoencouragecreatorsandrightsholderstoexperimentwithnewwaystopromoteandmarkettheirwork.Thereareseveralpossiblewaysofdoingthis. CC’sNonCommercial(NC)licensesallowrightsholderstomaximizedistributionwhilemaintainingcontrolofthecommercializationoftheirworks.Ifyouwanttoreservetherighttocommercializeyourwork,youmaydothisbychoosingalicensewiththeNCcondition.IfsomeoneelsewantstouseyourworkcommerciallyandyouhaveappliedanNClicensetoyourwork,theymustfirstgetyourpermission.Astherightsholder,youmaystillsellyourownworkcommercially. YoumayalsousefundingmodelsthatdonotdependonusinganNClicense.Forexample,manyartistsandcreatorsusecrowdfundingtofundtheirworkbeforereleasingitunderalessrestrictivelicense.Othersusea“freemium”modelwherethebasiccontentisfree,butextrassuchasaphysicalprintedversionorspecialaccesstoamembers-onlywebsiteareforpayingcustomersonly. Formoreinformationandideas,ThePowerofOpenpresentscasestudiesofartists,businesspeople,andorganizationswhouseCC. Alterationsandadditionstothelicense CanIinsistontheexactplacementoftheattributioncredit? No. CClicensesallowforflexibilityinthewaycreditisprovideddependingonthemedium,means,andcontextinwhichalicenseeisredistributinglicensedmaterial.Forexample,providingattributiontothecreatorwhenusinglicensedmaterialinablogpostmaybedifferentthandoingsoinavideoremix.Thisflexibilityfacilitatescompliancebylicenseesandreducesuncertaintyaboutdifferenttypesofreuse—minimizingtheriskthatoverlyonerousandinflexibleattributionrequirementsaresimplydisregarded. CanIchangethelicensetermsorconditions? Yes—butifyouchangethetermsandconditionsofanyCreativeCommonslicense,youmustnolongercall,label,ordescribethelicenseasa“CreativeCommons”or“CC”license,norcanyouusetheCreativeCommonslogos,buttons,orothertrademarksinconnectionwiththemodifiedlicenseoryourmaterials.Keepinmindthatalteringtermsandconditionsisdistinctfromwaivingexistingconditionsorgrantingadditionalpermissionsthanthoseinthelicenses.Licensorsmayalwaysdoso,andmanychoosetodosousingtheCC+protocoltoreadilysignalthewaiveroradditionalpermissionontheCClicensedeed. CCdoesnotassertcopyrightinthetextofitslicenses,soyouarepermittedtomodifythetextaslongasyoudonotusetheCCmarkstodescribeit.However,wedonotrecommendthis.Wealsoadviseagainstmodifyingourlicensesthroughindirectmeans,suchasinyourtermsofservice.AmodifiedlicenseverylikelywillnotbecompatiblewiththesameCClicense(unmodified)appliedtoothermaterial.Thiswouldpreventlicenseesfromusing,combining,orremixingcontentunderyourcustomizedlicensewithothercontentunderthesameorcompatibleCClicenses. Modifyinglicensescreatesfrictionthatconfusesusersandunderminesthekeybenefitsofpublic,standardizedlicenses.Centraltoourlicensesisthegrantofastandardsetofpermissionsinadvance,withoutrequiringuserstoaskforpermissionorseekclarificationbeforeusingthework.Thisencouragessharingandfacilitatesreuse,sinceeveryoneknowswhattoexpectandtheburdenofnegotiatingpermissionsonacasebycasebasisiseliminated. CanIwaivelicensetermsorconditions? Yes.Youmayalwayschoosetowaivesomelicensetermsorconditions.MateriallicensedunderaCClicensebutwithadditionalpermissionsgrantedorconditionswaivedmaybecompatiblylicensedwithothermaterialunderthesamelicense.OurCC+protocolprovidesamechanismforfacilitatingthatgrantorwaiver. CanIenterintoseparateorsupplementalagreementswithusersofmywork? Yes.CClicensesarenonexclusive.LicensorsalwayshavetheoptionofenteringintoseparatearrangementsforthesharingoftheirmaterialinadditiontoapplyingaCClicense.However,thosedifferentarrangementsarenot“CC”or“CreativeCommons”licenses. Separateagreements:YoumayofferthelicensedmaterialunderotherlicensesinadditiontotheCClicense(apracticecommonlyreferredtoas“duallicensing”).Forexample,youmaywishtolicenseavideogamesoundtrackunderbothaCClicenseandtheGPL,sothatitmaybeusedundereithersetofterms.Areusermaythenchoosewhichsetoftermstocomplywith.Or,forexample,youmayofferyourmaterialtothepublicunderaNonCommerciallicense,butoffercommercialpermissionstofee-payingcustomers. Supplementalagreements:Problemsarisewhenlicensorsdesignthosetermsorarrangementstoservenotasseparate,alternativelicensingarrangementsbutassupplementaltermshavingtheeffectofchangingthestandardtermswithintheCClicense.Whileyoumayofferseparatetermsandconditionstootherparties,youshouldnotdosoinsuchawaythatwouldneutralizetermsoftheCClicense. Exceptinthelimitedsituationwheremorepermissionsarebeinggrantedorlicenseconditionsarewaived,iftheadditionalarrangementmodifiesorconflictswiththeCClicenseterms,thentheresultinglicensingarrangementisnolongeraCClicensingarrangement.ToavoidconfusingthosewhomaymistakenlybelievetheworkislicensedunderstandardCCterms,wemustinsistthatintheseinstanceslicensorsnotuseourtrademarks,names,andlogosinconnectionwiththeircustomlicensingarrangement. Itshouldbenotedthatanyagreementsyoumakewithotherpartiesonlyhaveaneffectontheotherpartiestothatagreement,anddonotapplytoanyoneelsereceivingthelicensedmaterial.Forexample,iftherearetermsofusethatapplytovisitorstoyourwebsiteonwhichyouhostCC-licensedmaterial,yourtermsofusemayapplytovisitorstothatwebsite,butnottoanyonewhoreceivescopiesoftheCC-licensedmaterialelsewhere.Evenforthevisitorstoyourwebsite,anyseparatetermsandconditionsdonotbecomepartofthelicense—theyremainaseparatecontractualagreement,andviolationofthisagreementdoesnotconstitutecopyrightinfringement. Afterlicensing WhathappensifIoffermymaterialunderaCreativeCommonslicenseandsomeonemisusesthem? ACClicenseterminatesautomaticallywhenitsconditionsareviolated.Forexample,ifareuserofCC-licensedmaterialdoesnotprovidetheattributionrequiredwhensharingthework,thentheusernolongerhastherighttocontinueusingthematerialandmaybeliableforcopyrightinfringement.Thelicenseisterminatedfortheuserwhoviolatedthelicense.However,allotherusersstillhaveavalidlicense,solongastheyareincompliance. Underthe4.0licenses,alicenseeautomaticallygetstheserightsbackifshefixestheviolationwithin30daysofdiscoveringit. IfyouapplyaCreativeCommonslicenseandauserviolatesthelicenseconditions,youmayopttocontactthepersondirectlytoaskthemtorectifythesituationorconsultalawyertoactonyourbehalf.CreativeCommonsisnotalawfirmandcannotrepresentyouorgiveyoulegaladvice,buttherearelawyerswhohaveidentifiedthemselvesasinterestedinrepresentingpeopleinCC-relatedmatters. WhatcanIdoifIoffermymaterialunderaCreativeCommonslicenseandIdonotlikethewaysomeoneusesit? Aslongasusersabidebylicensetermsandconditions,licensorscannotcontrolhowthematerialisused.However,CClicensesdoprovideseveralmechanismsthatallowlicensorstochoosenottobeassociatedwiththeirmaterialortousesoftheirmaterialwithwhichtheydisagree. First,allCClicensesprohibitusingtheattributionrequirementtosuggestthatthelicensorendorsesorsupportsaparticularuse.Second,licensorsmaywaivetheattributionrequirement,choosingnottobeidentifiedasthelicensor,iftheywish.Third,ifthelicensordoesnotlikehowthematerialhasbeenmodifiedorused,CClicensesrequirethatthelicenseeremovetheattributioninformationuponrequest.(In3.0andearlier,thisisonlyarequirementforadaptationsandcollections;in4.0,thisalsoappliestotheunmodifiedwork.)Finally,anyonemodifyinglicensedmaterialmustindicatethattheoriginalhasbeenmodified.Thisensuresthatchangesmadetotheoriginalmaterial–whetherornotthelicensorapprovesofthem–arenotattributedbacktothelicensor. WhatdoIdoifsomeonetriestoplaceeffectivetechnologicalmeasures(suchasDRM)onmyCC-licensedmaterial? Theuseofanyeffectivetechnicalprotectionmeasures(suchasdigitalrightsmanagementor“DRM”)bylicenseestopreventothersfromexercisingthelicensedrightsisprohibited. Notallkindsofencryptionoraccesslimitationsareprohibitedbythelicenses.Forexample,sendingcontentviaemailandencryptingitwiththerecipient’spublickeydoesnotrestrictuseoftheworkbytherecipient.Likewise,limitingrecipientstoaparticularsetofusers(forexample,byrequiringausernameandpasswordtoenterasite)doesnotrestrictfurtheruseofthecontentbytherecipients.Intheseexamples,thesethingsdonotpreventtherecipientfromexercisingalloftherightsgrantedbythelicense,includingtherighttoredistributeitfurther. IfsomeoneisapplyingeffectivetechnologicalmeasurestoyourCC-licensedmaterialthatdorestrictexerciseofthelicensedrights(suchasapplyingDRMthatrestrictscopying),thisisaviolationofthelicensetermsunlessyouhavechosentograntthispermissionseparately. WhenIreleasemyworkunderaCClicenseinoneformat(e.g.,.pdf),canIrestrictlicenseesfromchangingittoorusingitinotherformats? No. CClicensesgrantpermissiontousethelicensedmaterialinanymediaorformatregardlessoftheformatinwhichithasbeenmadeavailable.ThisistrueevenifyouhaveappliedaNoDerivativeslicensetoyourwork.OnceaCClicenseisappliedtoaworkinoneformatormedium,alicenseemayusethesameworkinanyotherformatormediumwithoutviolatingthelicensor’scopyright. WhatifIchangemymindaboutusingaCClicense? CClicensesarenotrevocable.OncesomethinghasbeenpublishedunderaCClicense,licenseesmaycontinueusingitaccordingtothelicensetermsforthedurationofapplicablecopyrightandsimilarrights.Asalicensor,youmaystopdistributingundertheCClicenseatanytime,butanyonewhohasaccesstoacopyofthematerialmaycontinuetoredistributeitundertheCClicenseterms.Whileyoucannotrevokethelicense,CClicensesdoprovideamechanismforlicensorstoaskthatothersusingtheirmaterialremovetheattributioninformation.YoushouldthinkcarefullybeforechoosingaCreativeCommonslicense. ForLicensees BeforeusingCC-licensedmaterial WhatshouldIthinkaboutbeforeusingmaterialofferedunderaCreativeCommonslicense? CCofferssixcorelicenses,eachofwhichgrantsadifferentsetofpermissions.BeforeyouuseCC-licensedmaterial,youshouldreviewthetermsoftheparticularlicensetobesureyouranticipateduseispermitted.Ifyouwishtousetheworkinamannerthatisnotpermittedbythelicense,youshouldcontacttherightsholder(oftenthecreator)togetpermissionfirst,orlookforanalternativeworkthatislicensedinawaythatpermitsyouranticipateduse.Notethatifyouusematerialinawaythatisnotpermittedbytheapplicablelicenseandyouruseisnototherwisepermittedbyanapplicablecopyrightexceptionorlimitation,thelicenseisautomaticallyterminatedandyoumaybeliableforcopyrightinfringement,evenifyouareeligibletohaveyourrightsreinstatedlater. BeforeusingmaterialofferedunderaCreativeCommonslicense,youshouldknowthatCClicensesonlygrantpermissionsneededundercopyrightandsimilarrights,andtheremaybeadditionalrightsyouneedtouseitasintended.Youshouldalsounderstandthatlicensorsdonotofferwarrantiesorguaranteesaboutthematerialtheyarelicensingunlessexpresslyindicatedotherwise.Allmaterialsarelicensed“ASIS”andadisclaimerofwarrantiesappliesunlessexpresslyprovidedotherwise.Ifyouwanttoaskforawarrantyorguaranteeaboutrightstousethematerial,youshouldtalkwiththelicensorbeforeusingit. DoesaCreativeCommonslicensegivemealltherightsIneedtousethework? Itdepends.CClicensesdonotlicenserightsotherthancopyrightandsimilarrights(whichincludesuigenerisdatabaserightsinversion4.0).Forexample,theydonotlicensetrademarkorpatentrights,orthepublicity,personality,andprivacyrightsofthirdparties.However,licensorsagreetowaiveornotassertanymoralrights,publicityrights,personalityrights,orprivacyrightstheythemselveshold,tothelimitedextentnecessarytoallowexerciseofthelicensedrights.Anyrightsoutsideofthescopeofthelicensemayrequireclearance(i.e.,permission)inordertousetheworkasyouwouldlike. Additionally,creativeworkssometimesincorporateworksownedbyothers(knownas“thirdpartycontent”),oftenusedpursuanttoaCClicenseorunderanexceptionorlimitationtocopyrightsuchasfairuseintheU.S.Youshouldmakesureyouhavepermissiontouseanythirdpartycontentcontainedintheworkyouwanttouse,orthatyouruseisotherwiseallowedunderthelawsofyourjurisdiction,particularlyincasessuchasfairusewhereyourrighttousethecontentdependsontheparticularcontextinwhichyouplantouseit. AllCClicensescontainadisclaimerofwarranties,meaningthatthelicensorisnotguaranteeinganythingaboutthework,includingwhethersheownsthecopyright,hasreceivedpermissiontoincludethird-partycontentwithinherwork,orsecuredotherrightssuchasthroughtheuseofmodelreleasesifaperson’simageisusedinthework.YoumaywishtoobtainlegaladvicebeforeusingCC-licensedmaterialifyouarenotsurewhetheryouhavealltherightsyouneed. WhatiftherearesuigenerisdatabaserightsthatapplytomyuseofaCC-licenseddatabase? Inthesomewhatlimitedcircumstanceswheresuigenerisdatabaserightsapplytoyouruse,specialconditionsapplyandtherearemorespecificconsiderationsyoushouldbeawareof.Under4.0,suigenerisdatabaserightsarelicensedalongsidecopyright,butthetreatmentinearlierversionsofthelicensevaries.AfullerexplanationofthesevariationsandrelatedconsiderationsisavailableintheDataFAQ. WherecanIfindmaterialofferedunderaCClicense? IfyouarelookingformaterialofferedunderaCreativeCommonslicense,CCSearchisagoodstartingpoint.ThereisalsoadirectoryoforganizationsandindividualswhouseCClicenses.Somemediasites,suchasFlickr,havesearchfiltersformateriallicensedusingCC’slicenses. BesuretoconfirmthatthematerialyouwanttouseisactuallyunderaCClicense,assearchresultsmaysometimesbemisleading. AreCreativeCommonsworksreallyfreetouse? Yes.WhilemanyifnotmostCC-licensedworksareavailableatnocost,somelicensorschargeforinitialaccesstoCC-licensedworks—forexample,bypublishingCC-licensedcontentonlytosubscribers,orbychargingfordownloads.However,evenifyouhavepaidanaccesscharge,onceyouhaveacopyofCC-licensedmaterial,youmaymakeanyfurtherusespermittedbythelicensewithoutpayinglicensingfees. (Ifyouwishtomakeusesthatarenotpermittedbythelicense—forexample,makingacommercialuseofanNC-licensedphoto—thelicensormaychargeforthoseadditionalrights.) WhatshouldIknowaboutdifferencesbetweentheinternationallicensesandtheportedlicenses? Asalicensee,youshouldalwaysreadandunderstandtherelevantlicense’slegalcodebeforeusingCC-licensedmaterial,particularlyifyouareusingmaterialthatislicensedusingaportedlicensewithwhichyouareunfamiliar.Ourportingprocessinvolvedadaptingtheinternationallicensestothelegalframeworkofdifferentjurisdictions,andinthatprocessslightadjustmentsmayhavebeenmadethatyoushouldmakeyourselfawareofinadvanceofusingthematerial.YoucanfindmoreinformationabouttheportedlicensesintheJurisdictionDatabase. Therearecurrentlynoportedversionsof4.0,andweexpecttherewillbefew,ifany,inthefuture.Allofficialtranslationsofthe4.0internationallicensesareequivalent:youmaysubstituteoneforanotherdependingonyourpreferredlanguage. However,theportedversionsof3.0andearliersometimescontainsmalldifferencesfromtheinternationallicensedependingonthewaysinwhichtheyhavebeenadaptedtotheirjurisdictions.Forexample,ahandfuloftheportedlicensescontainprovisionsspecifyingwhichlawswillapplyintheeventthelicensorchoosestoenforcethelicense,andafewoftheportedlicensescontainforumselectionclauses. Generallicensecompliance WhathappensifIwanttousethematerialinawaythatisnotpermittedbythelicense? Contacttherightsholderstoaskforpermission.Otherwise,unlessanexceptionorlimitationtocopyrightapplies,youruseofthematerialmayviolatetheCreativeCommonslicense.Ifyouviolatethetermsofthelicense,yourrightstousethematerialwillbeautomaticallyterminated,andyoumaybeliableforcopyrightinfringement. DoIalwayshavetocomplywiththelicenseterms?Ifnot,whataretheexceptions? Youneedtocomplywiththelicensetermsifwhatyouaredoingwouldotherwiserequirepermissionfromtherightsholder.Ifyourusewouldnotrequirepermissionfromtherightsholderbecauseitfallsunderanexceptionorlimitation,suchasfairuse,orbecausethematerialhascomeintothepublicdomain,thelicensedoesnotapply,andyoudonotneedtocomplywithitstermsandconditions.Additionally,ifyouareusinganexcerptsmallenoughtobeuncopyrightable,thelicensedoesnotapplytoyouruse,andyoudonotneedtocomplywithitsterms. However,ifyouareusingexcerptsofCC-licensedmaterialwhichindividuallyareminimalanddonotrequirelicensecompliance,buttogethermakeupasignificantcopyrightablechunk,youmustcomplywiththelicenseterms.Forexample,ifyouquotemanyindividuallinesfromapoemacrossseveralsectionsofablogpost,andyouruseisnotafairuse,youmustcomplywiththelicenseeventhoughnoindividuallinewouldhavebeenasubstantialenoughportionoftheworktorequirethis. Attribution HowdoIproperlyattributematerialofferedunderaCreativeCommonslicense? AllCClicensesrequireuserstoattributethecreatoroflicensedmaterial,unlessthecreatorhaswaivedthatrequirement,notsuppliedaname,oraskedthathernameberemoved.Additionally,youmustretainacopyrightnotice,alinktothelicense(ortothedeed),alicensenotice,anoticeaboutthedisclaimerofwarranties,andaURIifreasonable.Forversionspriorto4.0,youmustalsoprovidethetitleofthework.(Thoughitisnotarequirementin4.0,itisstillrecommendedifoneissupplied.) Youmustalsoindicateifyouhavemodifiedthework—forexample,ifyouhavetakenanexcerpt,orcroppedaphoto.(Forversionspriorto4.0,thisisonlyrequiredifyouhavecreatedanadaptationbycontributingyourowncreativematerial,butitisrecommendedevenwhennotrequired.)Itisnotnecessarytonotetrivialalterations,suchascorrectingatypoorchangingafontsize.Finally,youmustretainanindicationofpreviousmodificationstothework. CClicenseshaveaflexibleattributionrequirement,sothereisnotnecessarilyonecorrectwaytoprovideattribution.Thepropermethodforgivingcreditwilldependonthemediumandmeansyouareusing,andmaybeimplementedinanyreasonablemanner.Additionally,youmaysatisfytheattributionrequirementbyprovidingalinktoaplacewheretheattributioninformationmaybefound. Whiletheattributionrequirementsinthelicensearetheminimumrequirement,wealwaysrecommendthatyoufollowthebestpracticesforthekindofuseyouaremaking.Forexample,ifyouareusingscientificdatamarkedwithCC0,youarenotrequiredtogiveattributionatall,butwerecommendthatyougivethesamecredityouwouldgivetoanyothersource—notbecausethelicenserequiresit,butbecausethatisthestandardforlettingothersknowthesourceofthedata. TheCCwebsiteofferssomebestpracticestohelpyouattributeproperly,andtheCCAustraliateamhasdevelopedahelpfulguidetoattributingCC-licensedmaterial(.pdf)indifferentformats.Notethattheattributionandmarkingrequirementsvaryslightlyamonglicenseversions.Seehereforachartcomparingthespecificrequirements. DoIneedtobeawareofanythingelsewhenprovidingattribution? Yes.Youneedtobecarefulnottoimplyanysponsorship,endorsement,orconnectionwiththelicensororattributionpartywithouttheirpermission.Wrongfullyimplyingthatacreator,publisher,oranyoneelseendorsesyouoryouruseofaworkmaybeunlawful.CreativeCommonsmakestheobligationnottoimplyendorsementexplicitinitslicenses.Inaddition,ifthelicensorofaworkrequeststhatyouremovetheidentifyingcredit,youmustdosototheextentpractical. Additionally,whenyouareusingaworkthatisanadaptationofoneormorepre-existingworks,youmayneedtogivecredittothecreator(s)ofthepre-existingwork(s),inadditiontogivingcredittothecreatoroftheadaptation. DoIalwayshavetoattributethecreatorofthelicensedmaterial? Youmustattributethecreatorwhenyouprovidematerialtothepublicbyanymeansthatisrestrictedbycopyrightorsimilarrights.Ifyouareusingthematerialpersonallybutarenotmakingitoranyadaptationsofitavailabletoothers,youdonothavetoattributethelicensor.Similarly,ifyouareonlydistributingthematerialoradaptationsofitwithinyourcompanyororganization,youdonothavetocomplywiththeattributionrequirement.Learnmoreaboutwhencompliancewiththelicenseisnotrequired. Usinglicensedmaterial DoesmyuseviolatetheNonCommercialclauseofthelicenses? CC’sNonCommercial(NC)licensesprohibitusesthatare“primarilyintendedforordirectedtowardcommercialadvantageormonetarycompensation.”ThisisintendedtocapturetheintentionoftheNC-usingcommunitywithoutplacingdetailedrestrictionsthatareeithertoobroadortoonarrow.PleasenotethatCC’sdefinitiondoesnotturnonthetypeofuser:ifyouareanonprofitorcharitableorganization,youruseofanNC-licensedworkcouldstillrunafouloftheNCrestriction,andifyouareafor-profitentity,youruseofanNC-licensedworkdoesnotnecessarilymeanyouhaveviolatedtheterm.Whetherauseiscommercialwilldependonthespecificsofthesituationandtheintentionsoftheuser. InCC’sexperience,itisusuallyrelativelyeasytodeterminewhetherauseispermitted,andknownconflictsarerelativelyfewconsideringthepopularityoftheNClicenses.However,therewillalwaysbeusesthatarechallengingtocategorizeascommercialornoncommercial.CCcannotadviseyouonwhatisandisnotcommercialuse.Ifyouareunsure,youshouldeithercontacttherightsholderforclarification,orsearchforworksthatpermitcommercialuses. CChasabriefguidetointerpretationoftheNClicensethatgoesintomoredetailaboutthemeaningoftheNClicenseandsomekeypointstopayattentionto.Additionally,in2008,CreativeCommonspublishedresultsfromasurveyonmeaningsofcommercialandnoncommercialusegenerally.NotethattheresultsofthestudyarenotintendedtoserveasCC’sofficialinterpretationofwhatisandisnotcommercialuseunderourlicenses,andtheresultsshouldnotberelieduponassuch. CanItakeaCC-licensedworkanduseitinadifferentformat? Yes.WhenanyofthesixCClicensesisappliedtomaterial,licenseesaregrantedpermissiontousethematerialasthelicenseallows,whateverthemediaorformatchosenbytheuserwhenitisusedordistributedfurther.ThisistrueeveninourNoDerivativeslicenses.Thisisoneofaveryfewdefaultrulesestablishedinourlicenses,toharmonizewhatmaybedifferentoutcomesdependingonwhereCC-licensedmaterialisreusedandwhatjurisdiction’scopyrightlawapplies. Thismeans,forexample,thatevenifacreatordistributesaworkindigitalformat,youhavepermissiontoprintandshareahardcopyofthesamework. HowdoIknowifalow-resolutionphotoandahigh-resolutionphotoarethesamework? Aswithmostcopyrightquestions,itwilldependonapplicablelaw.Generally,tobedifferentworksundercopyrightlaw,theremustbeexpressiveororiginalchoicesmadethatmakeoneworkaseparateanddistinctworkfromanother.Thedeterminationdependsonthestandardsforcopyrightintherelevantjurisdiction. UnderU.S.copyrightlaw,forexample,mechanicalreproductionofaworkintoadifferentformatisunlikelytocreateaseparate,newwork.Consequently,digitallyenhancingorchangingtheformatofaworkabsentsomeoriginality,suchasexpressivechoicesmadeintheenhancementorencoding,willnotlikelycreateaseparateworkforcopyrightpurposes.Thecreativebarislow,butitisnotnon-existent.Accordingly,insomejurisdictionsreleasingaphotographunderaCClicensewillgivethepublicpermissiontoreusethephotographinadifferentresolution. CanIreuseanexcerptofalargerworkthatislicensedwiththeNoDerivsrestriction? TheNoDerivslicenses(BY-NDandBY-NC-ND)prohibitreusersfromcreatingadaptations.Whatconstitutesanadaptation,otherwiseknownasaderivativework,variesslightlybasedonthelawoftherelevantjurisdiction. IncorporatinganunalteredexcerptfromanND-licensedworkintoalargerworkonlycreatesanadaptationifthelargerworkcanbesaidtobebuiltuponandderivedfromtheworkfromwhichtheexcerptwastaken.Generally,noderivativeworkismadeoftheoriginalfromwhichtheexcerptwastakenwhentheexcerptisusedtoilluminateanideaorprovideanexampleinanotherlargerwork.Instead,onlythereproductionrightoftheoriginalcopyrightholderisbeingexercisedbypersonreusingtheexcerpt.AllCClicensesgranttherighttoreproduceaCC-licensedworkfornoncommercialpurposes(ataminimum).Forexample,apersoncouldmakecopiesofonechapterofanND-licensedbookandnotbeinviolationofthelicensesolongasotherconditionsofthelicensearemet. Thereareexceptionstothatgeneralrule,however,whentheexcerptsarecombinedwithothermaterialinawaythatcreatessomenewversionoftheoriginalfromwhichtheexcerptistaken.Forexample,ifaportionofasongwasusedaspartofanewsong,thatmayrisetothelevelofcreatinganadaptationoftheoriginalsong,eventhoughonlyaportionofitwasusedandevenifthatportionwasusedas-is. CanIuseeffectivetechnologicalmeasures(suchasDRM)whenIshareCC-licensedmaterial? No. WhenyoureceivematerialunderaCreativeCommonslicense,youmaynotplaceadditionaltermsandconditionsonthereuseofthework.Thisincludesusingeffectivetechnologicalmeasures(ETMs)thatwouldrestrictalicensee’sabilitytoexercisethelicensedrights. AtechnologicalmeasureisconsideredanETMifcircumventingitcarriespenaltiesunderlawsfulfillingobligationsunderArticle11oftheWIPOCopyrightTreatyadoptedonDecember20,1996,orsimilarinternationalagreements.Generally,thismeansthattheanti-circumventionlawsofvariousjurisdictionswouldcoverattemptstobreakit. Forexample,ifyouremixaCC-licensedsong,andyouwishtoshareitonamusicsitethatplacesdigitalcopy-restrictiononalluploadedfiles,youmaynotdothiswithoutexpresspermissionfromthelicensor.However,ifyouuploadthatsamefiletoyourownsiteoranyothersitethatdoesnotapplyDRMtothefile,andalistenerchoosestostreamitthroughanappthatappliesDRM,youhavenotviolatedthelicense. Notethatmerelyconvertingmaterialintoadifferentformatthatisdifficulttoaccessorisonlyavailableforcertainplatformsdoesnotviolatetherestriction;youmaydothiswithoutviolatingthelicenseterms. CanIshareCC-licensedmaterialonpassword-protectedsites? Yes.Thisisnotconsideredtobeaprohibitedmeasure,solongastheprotectionismerelylimitingwhomayaccessthecontent,anddoesnotrestricttheauthorizedrecipientsfromexercisingthelicensedrights.Forexample,youmaypostmaterialunderanyCClicenseonasiterestrictedtomembersofacertainschool,ortopayingcustomers,butyoumaynotplaceeffectivetechnologicalmeasures(includingDRM)onthefilesthatpreventsthemfromsharingthematerialelsewhere. (NotethatchargingforaccessmaynotbepermittedwithNC-licensedmaterial;however,itisnotdisallowedbytherestrictiononETMs.) CanIshareCC-licensedmaterialonfile-sharingnetworks? Yes.AllCClicensesallowredistributionoftheunmodifiedmaterialbyanymeans,includingdistributionviafile-sharingnetworks.Notethatfile-tradingisexpresslyconsideredtobenoncommercialforpurposesofcompliancewiththeNClicenses.BarterofNC-licensedmaterialforotheritemsofvalueisnotpermitted. DoIneedtoworryaboutwebsitetermsofservicewhenIshareCC-licensedcontentonsocialmediaplatforms? Itisalwaysagoodideatofamiliarizeyourselfwiththetermsandconditionsthatapplytoanyserviceyouareusing.Generallyspeaking,mostsocialmediaplatformsallowuserstokeepthecopyrighttheyhaveintheircontentandaskuserstograntthemacopyrightlicensetousethatcontentforpurposesofprovidingtheirservice.Insomecases,platformsmayalsoaskforalicensetouseyourcontentinadvertisingandotherpromotionsoftheirservice.CreativeCommonslicensesdonotallowsublicensing,whichmeansyoucannotgrantalicensetoaplatformwithrespecttotherightsinanyCC-licensedcontentyoudonotown.Forexample,ifyoushareonFacebookaCC-licensedimageyoudownloadedfromFlickr,youcannotgrantFacebookanyrightstothatimageundercopyright.However,itisunusualforsocialmediaplatformstorequireyoutoownorcontrolthecopyrightonallcontentyoushareontheirsites.Instead,theyoftensimplyrequirethatyouhavetherightstopostit.Aswithcontentinthepublicdomainorcopyrightedcontentyouareusingunderfairuseorsomeotherexceptionorlimitationtocopyright,whenyousharethirdpartyCC-licensedcontentonaplatform,youaren’tgrantingthatplatformanyrightstothecontentundercopyright.WhensharingCC-licensedcontent,alwaysremembertoprovideproperattributionandotherwisecomplywiththerelevantlicenseconditions. Don’tforgetthataCClicenseonlyspeakstocopyright,andtheremaybeotherrights(forexample,privacyrights)thatarerelevantwhensharingonsocialmedia. Additionalrestrictionsonlicensedmaterial WhatifIreceivedCC-licensedmaterialencumberedwitheffectivetechnologicalmeasures(suchasDRM)? IfyouhavereceivedmaterialunderaCClicensethatisencumberedwitheffectivetechnologicalmeasures(suchasdigitalrightsmanagementorDRM),youmayormaynotbepermittedtobreakit,dependingonthecircumstances.ByreleasingmaterialunderaCClicense,thelicensoragreesnottoassertanyrightsshemayhavetopreventthecircumventionofeffectivetechnologicalmeasures.(Underthe3.0andearlierlicenses,thisisimpliedbutnotexplicit.)However,ifshehasuploadedittoasiteorotherdistributionchannelthatitselfappliessuchmeasures,thatsitemayhavetherighttopreventyoufrombreakingthem,eventhoughthelicensorherselfcannotdoso. Notethatanti-circumventionlawscanimposecriminalliabilityinsomejurisdictions. WhatifIhavereceivedCC-licensedmaterialwithadditionalrestrictions? ItispossiblethatCC-licensedmaterialwillappearonplatformsthatimposetermsinadditiontothecopyrightlicense(thoughCreativeCommonsstronglydiscouragesrestrictionsthatinterferewithexerciseofthelicensedrights).Theseadditionaltermsdonotformpartofthelicenseforthework.Forexample,ifyoudownloadCC-licensedmaterialfromasitethatdoesnotpermitdownloading,youmaybebreakingthetermsofuseofthesite,butyouarenotinfringingtheCClicense.SeeourguidetoModifyingtheCClicensesformoreguidanceandinformation. CombiningandadaptingCCmaterial Whenismyuseconsideredanadaptation? WhetheramodificationoflicensedmaterialisconsideredanadaptationforthepurposeofCClicensesdependsprimarilyontheapplicablecopyrightlaw.Copyrightlawreservestoanoriginalcreatortherighttocreateadaptationsoftheoriginalwork.CClicensesthatallowforadaptationstobeshared—allexceptBY-NDandBY-NC-ND—grantpermissiontootherstocreateandredistributeadaptationswhendoingsowouldotherwiseconstituteaviolationofapplicablecopyrightlaw.Generally,amodificationrisestothelevelofanadaptationundercopyrightlawwhenthemodifiedworkisbasedonthepriorworkbutmanifestssufficientnewcreativitytobecopyrightable,suchasatranslationofanovelfromonelanguagetoanother,orthecreationofascreenplaybasedonanovel. UnderCClicenses,synchingmusicintimedrelationwithamovingimageisalwaysconsideredanadaptation,whetherornotitwouldbeconsideredsounderapplicablelaw.Also,underversion4.0,certainusesofdatabasesrestrictedbysuigenerisdatabaserightsalsoconstituteadaptations(called“AdaptedMaterial”inthe4.0licenses),whetherornottheywouldbeconsideredadaptationsundercopyrightlaw.Formoredetailsaboutadaptationsinthedatabasecontext,seetheDataFAQ. NotethatallCClicensesallowtheusertoexercisetherightspermittedunderthelicenseinanyformatormedium.Thosechangesarenotconsideredadaptationsevenifapplicablelawwouldsuggestotherwise.Forexample,youmayredistributeabookthatusestheCCBY-NC-NDlicenseinprintformwhenitwasoriginallydistributedonline,evenifyouhavehadtomakeformattingchangestodoso,aslongasyoudosoincompliancewiththeothertermsofthelicense. Noteonterminology:throughouttheseFAQs,weusetheterm“remix”interchangeablywith“adapt.”Botharedesignedtomeandoingsomethingthatconstitutesanadaptationundercopyrightlaw. CanIcombinematerialunderdifferentCreativeCommonslicensesinmywork? Itdepends.Thefirstquestiontoaskiswhetherdoingsoconstitutesanadaptation.Ifthecombinationdoesnotcreateanadaptation,thenyoumaycombineanyCC-licensedcontentsolongasyouprovideattributionandcomplywiththeNonCommercialrestrictionifitapplies.Ifyouwanttocombinematerialinawaythatresultsinthecreationofanadaptation(i.e. a“remix”),thenyoumustpayattentiontotheparticularlicensethatappliestothecontentyouwanttocombine. TheNoDerivativeslicensesdonotpermitremixingexceptforprivateuse(thepre-4.0licensesdonotpermitremixingatall,exceptasallowedbyexceptionsandlimitationstocopyright).AlltheotherCClicensesallowremixes,butmayimposelimitationsorconditionsonhowtheremixmaybeused.Forexample,ifyoucreatearemixwithmateriallicensedunderaShareAlikelicense,youneedtomakesurethatallofthematerialcontributedtotheremixislicensedunderthesamelicenseoronethatCChasnamedascompatible,andyoumustproperlycreditallofthesourceswiththerequiredattributionandlicenseinformation.Similarly,ifyouwanttousearemixforcommercialpurposes,youcannotincorporatematerialreleasedunderoneoftheNonCommerciallicenses. ThechartbelowshowswhichCC-licensedmaterialcanberemixed.Tousethechart,findalicenseontheleftcolumnandonthetoprightrow.Ifthereisacheckmarkintheboxwherethatrowandcolumnintersect,thentheworkscanberemixed.Ifthereisan“X”inthebox,thentheworksmaynotberemixedunlessanexceptionorlimitationapplies.Seebelowfordetailsonhowremixesmaybelicensed. IfIderiveoradaptmaterialofferedunderaCreativeCommonslicense,whichCClicense(s)canIuse? IfyoumakeadaptationsofmaterialunderaCClicense(i.e. “remix”),theoriginalCClicensealwaysappliestothematerialyouareadaptingevenonceadapted.Thelicenseyoumaychooseforyourowncontribution(calledyour“adapter’slicense”)dependsonwhichlicenseappliestotheoriginalmaterial.RecipientsoftheadaptationmustcomplywithboththeCClicenseontheoriginalandyouradapter’slicense. BYandBY-NCmaterial WhenremixingBYorBY-NCmaterial,itisgenerallyrecommendedthatyouradapter’slicenseincludeatleastthesamelicenseelementsasthelicenseappliedtotheoriginalmaterial.Thiseasesreusefordownstreamusersbecausetheyareabletosatisfybothlicensesbycomplyingwiththeadapter’slicense.Forexample,ifyouadaptmateriallicensedunderBY-NC,youradapter’slicenseshouldalsocontaintheNCrestriction.Seethechartbelowformoredetails. BY-SAandBY-NC-SAmaterial Ingeneral,whenremixingShareAlikecontent,youradapter’slicensemustbethesamelicenseasthelicenseonthematerialyouareadapting.Alllicensesafterversion1.0alsoallowyoutolicenseyourcontributionsunderalaterversionofthesamelicense,andsomealsoallowportedlicenses.(Seethelicenseversionspagefordetails.)IfyouwishtoadaptmaterialunderBY-SAorBY-NC-SAandreleaseyourcontributionsunderanon-CClicense,youshouldvisittheCompatibilitypagetoseewhichoptionsareallowed. BY-NDandBY-NC-NDmaterial TheBY-NDandBY-NC-NDlicensesdonotpermitdistributionofadaptations(alsoknownasremixesorderivativeworks),andprohibitsthecreationofadaptationsunderthepre-4.0versionsofthoselicenses.Sinceyoumaynotshareremixesofthesematerialsatall,thereisnocompatibilitywithotherlicenses.(NotethattheNDlicensesdoallowyoutoreproducethematerialinunmodifiedformtogetherwithothermaterialinacollection,asindicatedinthenextFAQ.) Adapter’slicensechart ThechartbelowdetailstheCClicense(s)youmayuseasyouradapter’slicense.Whencreatinganadaptationofmaterialunderthelicenseidentifiedinthelefthandcolumn,youmaylicenseyourcontributionstotheadaptationunderoneofthelicensesindicatedonthetoprowifthecorrespondingboxisgreen.CCdoesnotrecommendusingalicenseifthecorrespondingboxisyellow,althoughdoingsoistechnicallypermittedbythetermsofthelicense.Ifyoudo,youshouldtakeadditionalcaretomarktheadaptationasinvolvingmultiplecopyrightsunderdifferenttermssothatdownstreamusersareawareoftheirobligationstocomplywiththelicensesfromallrightsholders.Darkgrayboxesindicatethoselicensesthatyoumaynotuseasyouradapter’slicense. Adapter’slicensechart Adapter’slicense BY BY-NC BY-NC-ND BY-NC-SA BY-ND BY-SA PD Statusoforiginalwork PD               BY               BY-NC               BY-NC-ND               BY-NC-SA               BY-ND               BY-SA               AbbreviationKey BY=Attributiononly BY-ND=Attribution-NoDerivatives BY-NC-ND=Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives BY-NC=Attribution-NonCommercial BY-NC-SA=Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike BY-SA=Attribution-ShareAlike PD=Dedicatedtoormarkedasbeinginthepublicdomainviaoneofourpublicdomaintools,orotherpublicdomainmaterial;adaptationsofmaterialsinthepublicdomainmaybebuiltuponandlicensedbythecreatorunderanylicensetermsdesired. IfIcreateacollectionthatincludesaworkofferedunderaCClicense,whichlicense(s)mayIchooseforthecollection? AllCreativeCommonslicenses(includingtheversion4.0licenses)allowlicensedmaterialtobeincludedincollectionssuchasanthologies,encyclopedias,andbroadcasts.Youmaychoosealicenseforthecollection,howeverthisdoesnotchangethelicenseapplicabletotheoriginalmaterial. WhenyouincludeCC-licensedcontentinacollection,youstillmustadheretothelicenseconditionsgoverningyouruseofthematerialincorporated.Forexample,materialunderanyoftheCreativeCommonsNonCommerciallicensescannotbeusedcommercially.ThetablebelowindicateswhattypeofCC-licensedworksyoumayincorporateintocollectionslicensedforcommercialandnoncommercialuses. OriginalWork CommercialCollection(BY,BY-SA,BY-ND) NonCommercialCollection(BY-NC,BY-NC-SA,BY-NC-ND) PD     BY     BY-NC     BY-NC-ND     BY-NC-SA     BY-ND     BY-SA     Licensetermination WhendoCreativeCommonslicensesexpire? CreativeCommonslicensesexpirewhentheunderlyingcopyrightandsimilarrightsexpire. Notethattherelevantrightsmayexpireatdifferenttimes.Forexample,youmayhaveaCC-licensedsongwheretherightsinthemusicalarrangementexpirebeforetherightsinthelyrics.Inthiscase,whenthecopyrightinthemusicexpires,youmayuseitwithoutbeingrequiredtocomplywiththeconditionsoftheCClicense;however,youmuststillcomplywiththelicenseifyouusethelyrics. WhathappensiftheauthordecidestorevoketheCClicensetomaterialIamusing? TheCClicensesareirrevocable.ThismeansthatonceyoureceivematerialunderaCClicense,youwillalwayshavetherighttouseitunderthoselicenseterms,evenifthelicensorchangeshisorhermindandstopsdistributingundertheCClicenseterms.Ofcourse,youmaychoosetorespectthelicensor’swishesandstopusingthework. HowcanIlosemyrightsunderaCreativeCommonslicense?Ifthathappens,howdoIgetthemback? AlloftheCClicensesterminateifyoufailtofollowthelicenseconditions.Ifthishappens,younolongerhavealicensetousethematerial. Inthe4.0licenses,yourrightsunderthelicenseareautomaticallyreinstatedifyoucorrectthisfailurewithin30daysofdiscoveringtheviolation(eitheronyourownorbecausethelicensororsomeoneelsehastoldyou).Underthe3.0andearlierlicenses,thereisnoautomaticreinstatement. IfyouhavelostyourrightsunderaCClicenseandarenotentitledtoautomaticreinstatement,youmayregainyourrightsunderthelicenseifthelicensorexpresslygrantsyoupermission.Youcannotsimplyre-downloadthematerialtogetanewlicense. Notethatyoumaystillbeliablefordamagesforcopyrightinfringementfortheperiodwhereyouwerenotincompliancewiththelicense. TechnicalQuestions HowdoCreativeCommonslicensesandpublicdomaintoolsworktechnically? TheCreativeCommonslicenseshavethreelayers,asdoestheCC0publicdomaindedication:thehuman-readabledeed,thelawyer-readablelegalcode,andthemachine-readablemetadata.ThePublicDomainMarkisnotlegallyoperative,andsohasonlytwolayers:thehuman-readablemarkandmachine-readablemetadata. WhenmaterialislicensedusinganyoftheCClicensesortools,itishighlyrecommendedthataCCbutton,text,orothermarkersomehowaccompanyit.Therearemanypossiblemodesformarking.Forourlicenses,peoplegenerallyusetheCClicensechoosertogenerateHTMLcodethatcanbepastedintothewebpagewherethelicensedmaterialispublished.CC0andthePublicDomainMarkhaveaseparatechooser.ManyplatformsandwebservicessuchasFlickrandDrupalsupportCClicensingdirectly,allowingyoutoselectanappropriatelicense.Theservicethenproperlymarkstheworkforyou. CChaspublishedsomebestpracticesformarkingyourCC-licensedmaterial,andrecommends: Includingavisualindicator(somecombinationoftextandimages)thattheworkislicensedwithoneoftheCClicenses. ClearlyindicatingwhatmaterialiscoveredundertheCClicense,especiallyifit’spresentedalongsidenon-licensedmaterials. Includingalinktothehuman-readabledeed(whichitselfcontainsalinktothelegalcode). Embeddingmachine-readablemetadatainthecodeofthelicenseindicatororcodeofthelicensedpage. Seethemarkingpageformoredetails. WhatdoesitmeanthatCreativeCommonslicensesare“machine-readable”? CreativeCommonshasspecifiedCCRELasawaytoassociatemachine-readablelicensingmetadatawithobjectsofferedunderCClicenses. BeforeCreativeCommonsdevelopedthisvocabulary,itwasdifficultforamachinetoascertainwhetheranobjectwasmarkedwithaCClicense.Therewasalsonostandard,predictableplacetohousemetadataaboutthatlicense(forexample,thesourceURLoftheworkortherequiredmodeofattribution). Machine-readablemetadatabasedonwell-acceptedmetadatastandardscreatesaplatformuponwhichnewservicesandapplicationscanbebuilt.SoftwareandservicescandetectCClicensesandthedetailsofthatlicense,asdescribedbythemetadata.Forexample,onmanywebsitesandsearchenginessuchasGoogleandFlickr,youcanrunfilteredsearchesforworksofferedunderspecificCClicenses.Inaddition,CClicensedeedscanautomaticallycreatecopy-and-pasteattributioncodesousersmayeasilycomplywiththeBYconditionofthelicenses.WhenyouclickonaCClicenseorbuttonfromapagewithlicensemetadata,yougetcopy-and-pasteattributionHTMLwithinthatlicensedeedpage.ThatHTMLisbasedonavailableRDFametadataintheoriginalmaterial. AllHTMLprovidedbytheCClicensechooserisautomaticallyannotatedwithmetadatainRDFaformat. WhatisRDFa? RDFaisamethodforembeddingstructureddatainawebpage.FormoreinformationaboutRDFa,seethefollowingresources: RDFaPrimer:BridgingtheHumanandDataWebs RDFa.info RDFaWiki WhatisCCRELandwhydoesCreativeCommonsrecommendit? CreativeCommonsRightsExpressionLanguage(CCREL)rendersinformationaboutlicensesandworksmachine-readablethroughstandardsthatdefinethesemanticweb.CreativeCommonswantstomakeiteasyforcreatorsandscientiststobuildupontheworksofotherswhentheychoose;licensingyourworkforreuseandfindingproperlylicensedworkstoreuseshouldbeeasy.CCrecommendsthatyoumarkyourlicensedworkswithCCREL.TheCreativeCommonslicensechooserprovidesHTMLannotatedwithCCREL,whiletheCreativeCommonsdeedsrecognizeCCRELonwebpageswithworksofferedunderaCClicense,andusethismetadatatoenhancethedeedforproperlymarked-upworks,e.g.,byprovidingcopyandpasteHTMLthatincludesworkattribution. FormorebackgroundinformationonCCREL,pleaserefertothispaper. WhatdoesitmeanforasearchenginetobeCC-enabled? Somesearchengines(likeGoogle)allowpeopletofiltertheirsearchresultsbyusagerightssothatyoucanlimityoursearchresultsaccordingtotheparticularCClicenseyouseek.Forexample,ifyouarelookingforaphototoadapt,youcanfilteryoursearchtoreturnphotosthathaveaCClicensethatpermitscreationofadaptations.Youcangenerallyfindthissearchfeatureontheadvancedsearchpageofyourselectedsearchengine.YoucanalsouseCCSearch,whichoffersaconvenientinterfacetosearchandalistofthosecontentprovidersthatsupportsearchesforcontentbasedonusagerights. Pleasenote,however,thatyoushouldalwaysdoublechecktomakesurethattheworkyoulocatethroughasearchislicensedasyouwish. HowdoIgiveusersofmysitetheoptiontouseCClicensinglikeFlickrdoes? CreativeCommonsprovidestoolsforintegratinglicenseselectionwithyoursite.YoucanfindanoverviewattheWebIntegrationarticleontheCCwiki.ThePartnerInterfaceisagoodwaytogetstartedandwillalwayshavethemostup-to-datelicenseversionsandtranslations.However,thereisalsoanAPIavailableifyouwantmorecontrol. HowcanIchangeorremovetheCreativeCommonssearchoptionbuiltintotheFirefoxbrowser? MozillahasincludedtheCreativeCommonssearchfunctioninmanyversionsofFirefoxalongwithsearchoptionsforGoogle,Amazon,andotherpopularsites.PleasetakealookattheFirefoxarticleontheCCwikiforanexplanationofhowtochangethesefeatures. Ifyouwanttoaddorremoveaparticularsearchoption,clickonthelogointhesearchbox(forexample,theCClogoortheGooglelogo).Thiswillopenthepulldownmenu,whichwillallowyoutoselectdifferentsearchproviders.Ifyouchoose“ManageSearchEngines,”youwillbeabletoaddorremovesearchengines.Youcanalsoaltertheorderinwhichthesearchprovidersappearonthepulldownmenu. IsCreativeCommonsinvolvedindigitalrightsmanagement(DRM)? No. CClicensesareaformofrightsexpression,notrightsmanagement.CCprovidestoolstomakeiteasierforcreatorsandownerstosaywhichrightstheyreserveandpermissionstheygrant.Thisisdifferentfromdigitalrightsmanagement(or“DRM”),whichusestechnologicalprotectionmeasurestopreventpeoplefromusingtheworkinawaythattheownerhasnotpermitted. CClicensescontainlanguageprohibitinglicenseesfromtheuseofeffectivetechnologicalmeasures(includingDRM)topreventaccesstolicensedmaterial:”Youmaynotofferorimposeanyadditionalordifferenttermsorconditionson,orapplyanyEffectiveTechnologicalMeasuresto,theLicensedMaterialifdoingsorestrictsexerciseoftheLicensedRightsbyanysuchrecipient.” Whilelicensorsmayapplyeffectivetechnologicalmeasures(ETMs)totheirownmaterials,thelicensorprovidesalimitedpermissiontocircumventthesemeasures:“TheLicensorwaivesand/oragreesnottoassertanyrightorauthoritytoforbidYoufrommakingtechnicalmodificationsnecessarytoexercisetheLicensedRights,includingtechnicalmodificationsnecessarytocircumventEffectiveTechnologicalMeasures.”Notethatthisonlyappliestoeffectivetechnologicalmeasuresappliedbylicensorsthemselves:thirdpartiessuchasdistributionplatformsmaystillapplyETMsifthelicensoruploadsthere,andthelicenseisnotabletograntyoupermissiontocircumventit. LegalBackground Whatiscopyrightandwhydoesitmatter? Copyrightlawgrantsexclusiverightstocreatorsoforiginalworksofauthorship.Nationallawsusuallyextendprotectionstosuchworksautomaticallyoncefixedinatangiblemedium,prohibitingthemakingofcopieswithouttherightsholder’spermission,amongotherthings.Ontheinternet,eventhemostbasicactivitiesinvolvemakingcopiesofcopyrightedcontent.Ascontentisincreasinglyuploaded,downloaded,andsharedonline,copyrightlawisbecomingmorerelevanttomorepeoplethanitwas20yearsago.Unfortunately,infringingcopyrights—evenunintentionallyorunknowingly—canleadtoliability.Successfulnavigationoftheinternetrequiressomeunderstandingofcopyrightlaw. Whatisthepublicdomain? Thepublicdomainofcopyrightreferstotheaggregateofthoseworksthatarenotrestrictedbycopyrightwithinagivenjurisdiction.Aworkmaybepartofthepublicdomainbecausetheapplicabletermofcopyrighthasexpired,becausetherightsholdersurrenderedcopyrightintheworkwithatoollikeCC0,orbecausetheworkdidnotmeettheapplicablestandardsforcopyrightability. Becausethepublicdomaindependsonthecopyrightlawsinforcewithinaparticularterritory,sometimesaworkmaybeconsidered“inthepublicdomain”ofonejurisdiction,butnotinanother.Forexample,U.S.governmentworksareautomaticallyinthepublicdomainunderU.S.copyrightlaw,butmightberestrictedbycopyrightinothercountries. ThePublicDomainManifesto,theUniversityLibrariespage,andtheCC0FAQsallcontainadditionalinformationaboutthepublicdomain. WhatdoIneedtodotogetacopyright? Copyrightinmostjurisdictionsattachesautomaticallywithoutneedforanyformalityonceacreativeworkisfixedintangibleform(i.e. theminuteyouputpentopaper,takeaphoto,orhitthe“save”buttononyourcomputer). Insomejurisdictions,creatorsmayberequiredtoregisterwithanationalagencyinordertoenforcecopyrightincourt.Ifyouwouldlikemoreinformation,pleaseconsulttheBerneConventionoryourjurisdiction’scopyrightlaw. Althoughyoudonothavetoapplyacopyrightnoticeforyourworktobeprotected,itmaybeausefultooltoclearlysignaltopeoplethattheworkisyours.Italsotellsthepublicwhotocontactaboutthework. Whatisanadaptation? Anadaptationisaworkbasedononeormorepre-existingworks.Whatconstitutesanadaptationdependsonapplicablelaw,howevertranslatingaworkfromonelanguagetoanotherorcreatingafilmversionofanovelaregenerallyconsideredadaptations. Inorderforanadaptationtobeprotectedbycopyright,mostnationallawsrequirethecreatoroftheadaptationtoaddoriginalexpressiontothepre-existingwork.However,thereisnointernationalstandardfororiginality,andthedefinitiondiffersdependingonthejurisdiction.Civillawjurisdictions(suchasGermanyandFrance)tendtorequirethattheworkcontainanimprintoftheadapter’spersonality.Commonlawjurisdictions(suchastheU.S.orCanada),ontheotherhand,tendtohavealowerthresholdfororiginality,requiringonlyaminimallevelofcreativityand“independentconception.”Somecountriesapproachoriginalitycompletelydifferently.Forexample,Brazil’scopyrightcodeprotectsallworksofthemindthatdonotfallwithinthelistofworksthatareexpresslydefinedinthestatueas“unprotectedworks.”Consultyourjurisdiction’scopyrightlawformoreinformation. Whataremoralrights? Copyrightlawsinmanyjurisdictionsaroundtheworldgrantcreators“moralrights”inadditiontotheeconomicorcommercialrighttoexploittheircreativeworks.Moralrightsprotectthepersonalandreputationalvalueofaworkforitscreator.Moralrightsdifferbycountry,andcanincludetherightofattribution,therighttohaveaworkpublishedanonymouslyorpseudonymously,and/ortherighttotheintegrityofthework.Themoralrightofintegritymayprovidecreatorswithasourceforredressifanadaptationrepresentsderogatorytreatmentoftheirwork,typicallydefinedas“distortionormutilation”oftheworkortreatmentthatis“prejudicialtothehonor,orreputationoftheauthor.”Notalljurisdictionsprovideformoralrights. TheCClicensesareintendedtominimizetheeffectofmoralrightsonalicensee’sabilitytouselicensedmaterial;however,insomejurisdictions,theserightsmaystillhaveaneffect.CCofferssomeadditionalinformationonhowCClicensesmayaffectyourmoralrights. Whatareneighboringrights? Copyrightprovidesanincentivetocreateworksbyprovidingexclusiverightstocreators.However,thedistributionorexploitationofaworkofteninvolvesmorethanjustthecreator.Forexample,ifsomeonewritesasong,someoneelsemayperformthesong,andanothermayproducetherecordingofthesong.Somejurisdictionsextendcopyrighttothecontributionsmadebythesepersons;otherjurisdictionsextendsuchexclusiverightsintheformofneighboringrights.Neighboringrightsmayincludeperformers’rightsorbroadcasters’rights,amongothers.TheRomeConventionsetsforthsomeguidelinesonthescopeofneighboringrights.Notalljurisdictionsrecognizeneighboringrights. Whataresuigenerisdatabaserights? Suigenerisdatabaserightsgrantqualifyingdatabasemakerstherighttoprohibittheextractionandreuseofasubstantialportionofadatabase.Therightsaregrantedtodatabasemakersthatmakeasubstantialinvestmentoftimeandresourcestocreatethedatabase.SuigenerisdatabaserightsareprimarilyenactedwithintheEuropeanUnionandahandfulofotherjurisdictions. Whatarecollectingsocieties? Collectingsocietiesarecopyrightmanagementorganizations.SomeexamplesofcollectingsocietiesincludeASCAPandBMI(UnitedStates),BUMA/STEMRA(Netherlands),PRS(UnitedKingdom),andAPRA(Australia).Thesesocietieslicenseworksonbehalfoftheirownersandprocessroyaltypaymentsfrompartiesusingthecopyrightedworks. CCoffersadditionalinformationonhowcollectingsocietiesmightaffectyourrightsandyourabilitytoapplyCClicensestoyourwork.CChasseveralpilotsunderwaywithcollectingsocietiesthathavechosentoallowtheirmemberstouseCClicensesonalimitedbasis. Whatarepublicity,personality,andprivacyrights? Thesetermsareuseddifferentlyindifferentjurisdictions.Generallyspeaking,theserightsallowindividualstocontroltheuseoftheirvoice,image,likeness,orotheridentifiableaspectoftheiridentity,especiallyforpurposesofcommercialexploitation.Similarly,insomejurisdictionstheserightsallowpeopletorestrictothers’abilitytopublishinformationaboutthemwithouttheirpermission.Whetherandtowhatextenttheserightsexist,andifso,howtheyarelabeled,variesdependingonthejurisdiction. CreativeCommonslicenseshavealimitedeffectontheserightswherethelicensorholdsthem.Wherethelicensorhaspublicity,personality,orprivacyrightsthatmayaffectyourabilitytousethematerialasthelicenseintends,thelicensoragreestowaiveornotassertthoserights.However,anysuchrightsnotheldbythelicensorarenotaffectedandmaystillaffectyourdesireduseofalicensedwork.Ifyouhavecreatedaworkorwishtouseaworkthatmightinsomewayimplicatetheserights,youmayneedtoobtainpermissionfromtheindividualswhoserightsmaybeaffected. Data ThispagesupersedesDatabasesandCreativeCommons. Muchofthepotentialvalueofdataistosocietyatlarge—moredatahasthepotentialtofacilitateenhancedscientificcollaborationandreproducibility,moreefficientmarkets,increasedgovernmentandcorporatetransparency,andoveralltospeeddiscoveryandunderstandingofsolutionstoplanetaryandsocietalneeds. Abigpartofthepotentialvalueofdata,inparticularitssociety-widevalue,isrealizedbyuseacrossorganizationalboundaries.Howdoesthisoccurlegally?Manysitesgivenarrowpermissiontousedataviatermsofservice.Muchadhocdatasharingalsooccursamongresearchers.Andincreasingly,sharingofdataisfacilitatedbydistributionunderstandard,publiclegaltoolsusedtomanagecopyrightandsimilarrestrictionsthatmightotherwiselimitdisseminationorreuseofdata,e.g. CClicensesortheCC0publicdomaindedication. Manyorganizations,institutions,andgovernmentsareusingCCtoolsfordata.Forcasestudiesabouthowthesetoolsareapplied,see: :UsesofCCLicenseswithDataandDatabases:UsesofCC0withDataandDatabases FrequentlyaskedquestionsaboutdataandCClicenses CandatabasesbereleasedunderCClicenses? Yes,CClicensescanbeusedtolicensedatabases.Themostrecentversion(4.0)maybeusedtolicensedatabasessubjecttocopyrightand,whereapplicable,suigenerisdatabaserights.Suigenerisdatabaserightspreventcopyingandreusingofsubstantialpartsofadatabase(includingfrequentextractionofinsubstantialparts).Howeverunlikecopyright,databaserightsprotectthemaker’sinvestment,notoriginality. CCdoesnotrecommenduseofitsNonCommercial(NC)orNoDerivatives(ND)licensesondatabasesintendedforscholarlyorscientificuse. Inadditiontoourlicenses,theCC0PublicDomainDedicationmaybeusedondatabasestomaximizereuseofdatabases.Whenapplied,theeffectistowaiveallcopyrightandrelatedrightsinthedatabaseanditscontents,placingitascloseaspossibleintotheworldwidepublicdomain.Incertaindomains,suchasscienceandgovernment,thereareimportantreasonstoconsiderusingCC0.Waivingcopyrightandrelatedrightseliminatesalluncertaintyforpotentialusers,encouragingmaximalreuseandsharingofinformation. WhenaCClicenseisappliedtoadatabase,whatisbeinglicensed? Thelicensetermsandconditionsapplytothedatabasestructure(itsselectionandarrangement,totheextentcopyrightable),itscontents(ifcopyrightable),andinthoseinstanceswherethedatabasemakerhassuigenerisdatabaserightsthentherightsthataregrantedthosemakers.Notwithstanding,licensorscanchoosetolicensesomeratherthanalloftherightstheyhaveinadatabase.CreativeCommonsadvisesagainstthispractice.However,ifalicensorchoosestodosoanyway,westronglyencouragelicensorstoclearlydemarcatewhatisandisnotlicensed.Seebelowformoreinformationregardinghowtoprovideclearnoticeofwhatislicensed. HowdoIapplyaCClegaltooltoadatabase? BeforemakingadatabaseavailableunderaCClicense,adatabaseprovidershouldfirstmakesureshehasallrightsnecessarytodoso.Often,thedatabaseproviderisnottheoriginalauthorofthedatabasecontents.Ifthatisthecase,thedatabaseprovidershouldsecureseparatepermissionfromtheotherauthor(s)beforepublishingthedatabaseunderaCClegaltool.Ifadatabasemakerdecidestolicensethedatabasewithoutsecuringpermissionfromtheauthor(s)ofthedatabasecontents,itshouldclearlyindicatethematerialforwhichpermissionhasnotbeensecuredandclearlymarkthematerialasnotbeingofferedunderthetermsofthelicense.Formoreinformation,readourpre-licensingguidelines. DatabaseprovidersshouldalsoconsidercarefullywhatelementsofthedatabaseshewantscoveredbytheCClegaltoolandidentifythoseelementsinamannerthatreuserswillseeandunderstand.Pleaseseeour[markingpage]https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wiki/Marking_your_work_with_a_CC_license“wikilink”)formoreinformationonhowtoclearlydistinguishunlicensedcontent. HowdothedifferentCClicenseelementsoperateforaCC-licenseddatabase? Underversion4.0,ifanNClicensehasbeenappliedthenanyuseofthelicenseddatabaseoritscontentsthatisrestrictedbycopyrightlaworsuigenerisdatabaserightsrequirescompliancewiththeNCterm,evenifthedatabaseisnotpubliclyshared.Theotherlicenseelements(BY,ND,andSA,asapplicable)mustbecompliedwithonlyifyouruseissorestrictedandpublicsharingisinvolved.Learnmoreabouthowtocomplywhenyouruseimplicatescopyrightand/orsuigenerisdatabaserights. PriorCClicenseversionsdonotrequirecompliancewiththelicenserestrictionsorconditionswhenonlysuigenerisdatabaserights(andnotcopyright)areimplicated.Pleaseseebelowformoredetailabouthowthisworksinthecurrentandpriorversionsofthelicenses. CanIconducttext/dataminingonaCC-licenseddatabase? Yes.However,youshouldbeawarethatwhetheryouhavetocomplywiththeCClicensetermsandconditionswilldependonwhetherthetypeofminingactivityyouconductimplicatescopyrightoranyapplicablesuigenerisdatabaserights.Ifyouarenotexercisinganexclusiverightheldbythedatabasemaker,thenyoudonotneedtorelyonthelicensetomine.Becausetherearemanydifferentmethodsforconductingtextanddatamining,however,theremaybesometypesofminingactivitiesthatwillimplicatethelicensedrights. Ifandonlyifyourparticularuseisonethatwouldrequirepermission,youshouldnotethefollowing: Permission:Allsixofthe4.0licensesallowfortextanddataminingbygrantingexpresspermissiontoprivatelyreproduce,extract,andreusethecontentsofalicenseddatabaseandcreateadapteddatabases. Commercialpurposes:Ifyouareconductingtextanddataminingforcommercialpurposes,youshouldnotmineNC-licenseddatabasesorothermaterial. Outputs:Ifyoupubliclysharetheresultsofyourminingactivityorthedatayoumined,youshouldattributetherightsholder.Ifwhatyoupubliclysharequalifiesasanadaptationofthelicensedmaterial,youshouldnotmineND-licensedmaterial.IfyoushareanadaptationofmaterialunderanSAlicense,youmustapplythesamelicensetotheadaptationthatresults. Ifyouruseisnotonethatrequirespermissionunderthelicense,youmayconducttextanddataminingactivitywithoutregardtotheaboveconsiderations. HowdoesthetreatmentofsuigenerisdatabaserightsvaryinpriorversionsofCClicenses? Asexplainedabove,thecurrentversionoftheCClicensesuite(4.0)licensessuigenerisdatabaserightsinadditiontocopyrightandothercloselyrelatedrights.PastversionsofCClicensesoperatedifferentlywithrespecttosuigenerisdatabaserights. IntheCCversion3.0licenses,thelegaltreatmentofsuigenerisdatabaserightsvaries,butthepracticalresultisalwaysthesame:compliancewiththelicenserestrictionsandconditionsisnotrequiredwheresuigenerisdatabaserights–butnotcopyright–areimplicated.ThismeansthatifsomeoneextractsasubstantialportionofaCC-licenseddatabaseandusesitinawaythatdoesnotimplicatecopyright(e.g.,byrearrangingpurelyfactualdata),thelicensedoesnotrequirehertoattributethelicensororcomplywithanyotherrestrictionsorconditions,evenifthedatabaseisprotectedbysuigenerisdatabaserights. WhilethisresultisthesameacrossallCCversion3.0licenses,thereasonforthisoutcomevaries.Inthe3.0licensesportedtothelawsofEUjurisdictions,thescopeofthelicensesexpresslycoverdatabasessubjecttocopyrightand/orsuigenerisdatabaserights.However,theconditionsofthelicenseareexplicitlywaivedwhenuseofthelicensedworkonlyinvolvestheexerciseofdatabaserights. Bycontrast,the3.0unportedlicensesandallotherportedlicensesdonotexpresslylicensesuigenerisdatabaserights.Asaresult,thoselicensesdonotapplywhensuigenerisdatabaserightsaloneareimplicated.Thismeansalicenseemayneedseparatepermissiontousethedatabaseinawaythatimplicatessuigenerisdatabaserights(althougharguablyanimpliedlicensetoexercisethoserightsmaybedeemedgrantedinsomejurisdictions). Moreinformationontheunderlying3.0policydecisionthetreatmentofsuigenerisdatabaserightsthoselicensescanbefoundonourwiki(.pdf). WhatisthedifferencebetweentheOpenDataCommonslicensesandtheCC4.0licenses? TheOpenDatabaseLicense(ODbL)andtheOpenDataCommonsAttributionLicense(ODC-BY)arelicensesdesignedspecificallyforuseondatabasesandnotonothertypesofmaterial.TherearemanydifferencesbetweenthoselicensesandCClicenses,butthemostimportanttobeawareofrelatetolicensescopeandoperation.TheODClicensesapplyonlytosuigenerisdatabaserightsandanycopyrightinthedatabasestructure,theydonotapplytotheindividualcontentsofthedatabase.ThelatestversionoftheCClicensesontheotherhandapplytosuigenerisdatabaserightsandallcopyrightandneighboringrightsinthedatabasestructureaswellasthecontents.(SeeaboveformoredetailabouthowpastversionsofCClicensesvarywithrespecttosuigenerisdatabaserights.) AnotherimportantdifferenceisthatODClicensesmaycreatecontractualobligationseveninjurisdictionswheredatabaserightswouldnototherwiseexistandbutforthelicensepermissionwouldnotbenecessary.CChascrafteditslicensestoensurethattheyneverimposeobligationswherepermissionisnototherwiserequiredtousethelicensedmaterial. Frequentlyaskedquestionsaboutdata,generally Whichcomponentsofdatabasesareprotectedbycopyright? Withdatabases,therearelikelyfourcomponentstoconsider:(1)thedatabasemodelorstructure,(2)thedataentryandoutputsheet,(3)fieldnames,and(4)thedataorothercontent. Thedatabasemodelreferstohowadatabaseisstructuredandorganized,includingdatabasetablesandtableindexes.Theselection,coordination,andarrangementofthedatabaseissubjecttocopyrightifitissufficientlyoriginal.Theoriginalitythresholdisfairlylowinmanyjurisdictions.Forexample,whilecourtsintheUnitedStateshaveheldthatanalphabeticaltelephonedirectorywasinsufficientlyoriginaltomeritcopyrightprotection,anorganizeddirectoryofChinese-Americanbusinessesinaparticularareadid.1Thesedeterminationsareveryfact-specific(nopunintended)andvarybyjurisdiction. Thedataentryandoutputsheetscontainquestions,andtheanswerstothesequestionsarestoredinadatabase.Forexample,awebpageaskingascientisttoenteragene’sname,itspathwayinformation,anditsontologywouldconstituteadataentrysheet.Theformatandlayoutofthesesheetsareprotectedbycopyrightaccordingtothesamestandardoforiginalityusedtodetermineifthedatabasemodeliscopyrightable. Fieldnamesdescribethecontentsordata.Forexample,“address”mightbethenameofthefieldforstreetaddressinformation.Thesearelesslikelytobeprotectedbycopyrightbecausetheyoftenlacksufficientoriginality. Thedataorothercontentscontainedinthedatabasearesubjecttocopyrightiftheyaresufficientlycreative.Originalpoemscontainedinadatabasewouldbeprotectedbycopyright,butpurelyfactualdata(suchasgenenamesorcitypopulations)wouldnot.Factsarenotsubjecttocopyright,noraretheideasunderlyingcopyrightedcontent. HowdoIknowwhetheraparticularuseofadatabaseisrestrictedbycopyright? Whenthedatabasestructureoritscontentsissubjecttocopyright,reproducing,distributing,ormodifyingthedatabasewilloftenberestrictedbycopyrightlaw.However,itisimportanttonotethatsomeusesofacopyrighteddatabasewillnotberestrictedbycopyright.Itmaybepossible,forexample,torearrangeormodifytheuncopyrightabledatainawaythatdoesnotimplicatethecopyrightinthedatabasestructure.Forexample,while(asnotedabove)acourtintheUnitedStatesheldthatadirectoryofChinese-Americanbusinesseswasrestrictedbycopyright,thesamecourtwentontoholdthatadirectorythatduplicatedhundredsofitslistingswasnotinfringingbecausethelistingswerecategorizedandarrangedinasufficientlydissimilarway.Inthosesituations,compliancewiththelicenseconditionsisnotrequiredunlessthedatabasecontentsarethemselvesrestrictedbycopyright. Similarly,evenwheredatabasecontentsaresubjecttocopyrightandpublishedunderaCClicense,useofthefactsandideasembeddedwithinthecontentswillnotrequireattribution(orcompliancewithotherapplicablelicenseconditions),unlessdoingsoimplicatescopyrightinthedatabasestructureasexplainedabove.ThisimportantlimitationofallCClicensesishighlightedonthelicensedeedsintheNoticesection,whereweemphasizethatcompliancewiththelicenseisnotrequiredforelementsofthematerialinthepublicdomain. Ifmyuseofadatabaseisrestrictedbycopyright,howdoIcomplywiththelicense? AllCClicensesrequirethatyouattributethelicensorwhenyouruseinvolvespublicsharing.YourotherobligationsdependontheparticularCClicenseappliedtothedatabase.IfitisaNClicense,anyregulatedusemustbelimitedtononcommercialpurposesonly.IfaNDisapplied,youmayproduceanadapteddatabasebutcannotshareitpublicly.IfitisaShareAlike(SA)license,youmustapplythesameoracompatiblelicensetoanyadaptationofthedatabaseyousharepublicly. Whichcomponentsofadatabaseareprotectedbysuigenerisdatabaserights? Incontrasttocopyright,suigenerisdatabaserightsaredesignedtoprotectamaker’ssubstantialinvestmentinadatabase.Inparticular,therightpreventstheunauthorizedextractionandreuseofasubstantialportionofthecontents. HowdoIknowwhetheraparticularuseofadatabaseisrestrictedbysuigenerisdatabaserights? Whenadatabaseissubjecttosuigenerisdatabaserights,extractingandreusingasubstantialportionofthedatabasecontentsisprohibitedabsentsomeexpressexception. ItisimportanttorememberthatsuigenerisdatabaserightsexistinonlyafewcountriesoutsidetheEuropeanUnion,suchasKoreaandMexico.Generally,ifyouareusingaCC-licenseddatabaseinalocationwherethoserightsdonotexist,youdonothavetocomplywithlicenserestrictionsorconditionsunlesscopyright(orsomeotherlicensedright)isimplicated. Notethatifyouareusingadatabaseinajurisdictionwhereyoumustrespectdatabaserights,andyoureceiveaCC-licensedworkfromsomeonelocatedinajurisdictionwithoutdatabaserights,youshoulddeterminewhetherdatabaserightsexistandhavebeenlicensed.Ifso,youneedtoproperlymarkandattributeasthelicenserequires,sincethepersonfromwhomyoureceivedthedatabasemaynothavebeenrequiredtokeepthatinformation.Ifyouareusingalicenseddatabaseandyoudonothavetocomplywiththelicensetermsbecausesuchrightsdonotexistinyourjurisdiction,werecommendthatyouretainthisinformationwherepossible.Doingsoassistsdownstreamreuserswhoarerequiredtoprovideitwhentheysharefurther. Whatconstitutesa“substantialportion”ofadatabase? Thereisnobrightlinetestforwhatconstitutesa“substantialportion”.Theanswerwilldependonthelawintherelevantjurisdiction.Notethatwhatconstitutesasubstantialportionisdeterminedbothquantitativelyandqualitatively.Also,usingseveralinsubstantialportionscanadduptoasubstantialportion. Ifmyuseofadatabaseisrestrictedbysuigenerisdatabaserights,howdoIcomplywiththelicense? Ifthedatabaseisreleasedunderthecurrentversion(4.0)ofCClicenses,youmustattributethelicensorifyoushareasubstantialportionofthedatabasecontents.Theotherrequirementsdependontheparticularlicenseappliedtothedatabase.UndertheNClicenses,youmaynotextractandreuseasubstantialportionofthedatabasecontentsforcommercialpurposes.TheNDlicensesprohibityoufromincludingasubstantialportionofthedatabasecontentsinanotherpubliclyshareddatabaseinwhichyouhavesuigenerisdatabaserightsofyourown.Andfinally,theSAlicensesrequireyoutoapplythesameoracompatiblelicensetoanydatabaseyousharepubliclyandinwhichyouincludeasubstantialportionofthelicenseddatabasecontents.NotethatthisdoesnotrequireyoutoShareAlikeanycopyrightorotherrightsyouhaveintheindividualcontentsofthedatabase. ArtificialintelligenceandCClicenses WhatarethelimitsonhowCC-licensedworkscanbeusedinthedevelopmentofnewtechnologies,suchastrainingofartificialintelligencesoftware? Thelicensesgrantpermissionforreuseinanysituationthatrequirespermissionundercopyright.TherearemanywaysinwhichCC-licensedworkworksandevenallrightsreservedworkscanbereusedwithoutpermission.Thisincludesusesthatarefairuses,forexample. IfsomeoneusesaCC-licensedworkwithanynewordevelopingtechnology,andifcopyrightpermissionisrequired,thentheCClicenseallowsthatusewithouttheneedtoseekpermissionfromthecopyrightownersolongasthelicenseconditionsarerespected.Thisisoneoftheenduringqualitiesofourlicenses—theyhavebeencarefullydesignedtoworkwithallnewtechnologieswherecopyrightcomesintoplay.Nospecialorexplicitpermissionregardingnewtechnologiesfromacopyrightperspectiveisrequired. Butwhataboutprivacylaws,rulesgoverningethicalresearch,anddataprotectionlaws? CC’scopyrightlicensesarenotuniversalpolicytools.Copyrightistheprimaryobstacletoreusethatourlicensessolve,buttherearemanyotherissuesrelatedtothereuseofcontentthatourlicensesdonotaddressandthatreusersshouldbeawareof.Thesecanincludeprivacyandrulesgoverningethicalresearchandthecollectionoruseofdata,whichhavetobeaddressedandrespectedseparateandapartfromthecopyrightissuesthatCClicensescover. WhatattributionobligationsexistwhenCC-licensedimagesareincludedinapublisheddataset?IslinkingtotheoriginalimageorURIrequired,andifso,isitadequate? Itdepends.First,keepinmindthatCClicensesneverlimitusesthatcopyrightdoesn’tcontrol.Forexample,asageneralmattertextanddataminingintheUnitedStatesisconsideredafairuseanddoesnotrequirepermissionundercopyright.Thismeansthatreusersengagedintextanddataminingdonothavetoadheretothemarkingandattributionrequirementsinourlicensesforthatactivityeventhoughwestronglyrecommendtheydosoanyway.Asecondexampleislinking.Insomecountries,linkingtocopyrightedcontentdoesn’trequirepermissionundercopyrightlaw,whichmeanstheCClicenseobligationsdonotcomeintoplayeventhoughthelinkedcontentisCC-licensed. WhereaCC-licensedworkisdistributedaspartofadatabaseordataset,andassumingcopyright(orintheEuropeanUnion,copyrightorsuigenerisdatabaserights)istriggered,thenthelicenseconditionsmustberespected.Thismeansprovidingtherequiredattributioninformationinawaythatisreasonableunderthecircumstances.Ourlicensesallowforsomeflexibility,andinsomecasesthatmaybeassimpleasprovidingalinktothewebsitewheretherelevantattributioninformationisprovided.Visitourmarkingpracticespageformoreinformation. Ifafor-profitcompanyusesCC-licensedcontentunderaNonCommerciallicenseandreleasestheworkundertermsthatallowonlyresearchpurposes,istheNCrestrictionviolated? Thisdependsonwhetheranyoftheusesmadeoftheworksbythecompany,whetherforprofitornonprofit,areprimarilyintendedforcommercialadvantageormonetarycompensation.Thisishardtoknowwithouthavingallofthefactsabouthowaworkwasused,whetherinternallybythecompanyforitsownpurposesorhowtheworkwasdistributedforfurtheruse.VisitourNCpageformoreinformationaboutwhatconstitutescommercialandnoncommercialusesofworks. IfNC-licensedcontentisredistributedtothepublicunderanNClicense,thatdistributionwouldnotviolatetheNCclause.(NotethatCCstronglydiscouragestheuseofanylicensetermsotherthanaCCNClicenseforredistributionsofNC-licensedcontent.) IfCCSA-licensedcontentisincludedinadatabase,doestheentiredatabasehavetobelicensedunderanSAlicense? CClicensesneverrequireareuserofaCC-licensedworktomaketheoriginalworkorresultingworks(collections,derivatives,etc.)publiclyavailable.TherearelotsofprivatereusesofworksthatarepermittedbyCC’slicensesthatdonotrequirecompliancewiththeirterms.RegardingShareAlike,theconditiononlyappliesifaworkismodifiedandiftheworkissharedpublicly.Inthesituationwhereareusercreatedadatasetofphotosandmadeitpubliclyavailable,andassumingcopyrightpermissionisrequired,thenwhatisreleasedislikelyacollectionorcompilationofpre-existingworks.CClicensesdonotrequirethecollectionorthecompilationitselftobemadeavailableunderanSAlicense,eventhougheachindividualworkisstilllicensedindividuallyunderanSAlicenseandiftheyweremodifiedbythedistributorthemodifiedphotowouldneedtobelicensedunderthesameterms.Forexample,wereCreativeCommonstocompilephotographsfromaphotosharingwebsiteunderaBY-SA2.0licenseandcreateadatabasethatitthenpubliclydistributed,CCcouldlicensethecollectionasawholeunderaBYlicense,butthephotographswouldcontinuetobelicensedunderBY-SA2.0. What,ifany,remedies,dousershaveiftheydislikehowtheirphotosorimageshavebeenreused? Severalremediesarepotentiallyavailable.SomemaybeavailableiftheCClicensetermshavebeenviolated,andothersmaybeavailablethroughother,separateavenuesbecausetheyinvolveotherlawsorregulationsthattheCClicensesdonotcover.It’simportanttoremember,however,thatabsentaviolationofthelicensethepermissionsgrantedunderthelicenseremaininplaceandcannotberevoked. UndertheCClicenses,evenifalicenseconditionhasnotbeenviolatedlicensorscanaskthatattributiontothemberemovedsotheycandistancethemselvesfromthereuse. ForviolationsofaCClicensetermwherethelicensewasrequired(notafairuse,etc.)thenyoumayhaveaclaimforcopyrightinfringement.Fortunately,intheCCcommunitymostlicenseviolationsarehandledamicablywithoutresortingtothecourts. Forclaimsinvolvinglawsandregulationsotherthancopyright,recoursemaybeavailabledependingonyourlocallaws. Animportantstartingpointforanywould-besharerofcontentunderaCClicenseistoeducateyourselfinadvanceabouthowtheyworkandwhatrightstheydoanddonotcover.WehavemanyFAQsonourwebsite.Wealsoprovidehuman-readabledeedswithlinkstothefulltextofourlicenses.Additionally,allofourlicenseshighlightatthebeginningmanyconsiderationsthatlicensorsshouldhaveinmindbeforetheylicense,andconsiderationsforreusersofworksbeforetheydosoinordertoavoidinadvertentviolations. Notes KeyPublications,Inc. v.ChinatownTodayPublishingEnterprisesInc.,945F.2d509(2dCir.1991).↩︎