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Copyright: The Creative Commons Licences

The Creative Commons Licences

Creative Commons licenses (CC) operate within copyright law and use a “some rights reserved” approach. They were created to help address the tension between creators’ ability to share digital works globally and copyright regulations. The licenses were designed to be a free, voluntary solution for creators who want to grant the public up-front permissions to use their works.

The Six Creative Commons Licences

 

A rectangle circumscribing two circles next to each other: one slightly bigger with the letter CC and the second with a graphic of a man.

BY - Attribution licence

The original creator must be credited (see link).

 

A rectangle circumscribing three circles next to each other: one slightly bigger with the letter CC, the second with a graphic of a man and the third with a line through over a dollar symbol.

BY NC - Attribution NonCommercial licence

The original creator must be credited, and the work can only be used for non-commercial purposes (see link).

 

A rectangle circumscribing two circles next to each other: one slightly bigger with the letter CC and the second with a C-shaped arrow pointing counter-clockwise.

BY SA - Attribution ShareAlike licence

The original creator must be credited, and adaptations must be shared under the same terms (see link).

 

A rectangle circumscribing four circles next to each other: one slightly bigger with the letter CC, the second with a graphic of a man, the third with a line through over a dollar symbol, and the fourth with a C-shaped arrow pointing counter-clockwise.

BY NC-SA - Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike licence

The original creator must be credited, the work can only be used for non-commercial purposes, and adaptations must be shared under the same terms (see link).

 

A rectangle circumscribing three circles next to each other: one slightly bigger with the letter CC, the second with a graphic of a man and the third with an equal symbol.

BY ND - Attribution NonDerivatives

Credit must be given to the creator, and no derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted (see link).

 

A rectangle circumscribing four circles next to each other: one slightly bigger with the letter CC, the second with a graphic of a man, the third with a line through over a dollar symbol, and the fourth a with an equal symbol.

BY NC-ND - Attribution NonCommercial NonDerivatives

Credit must be given to the creator, the work can only be used for non-commercial purposes, and no derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted (see link).

How Do You License Your Work?

When you enrolled in your course as a student, you agreed that any intellectual property (IP) developed with significant input from University staff and resources or as part of a collective project must be assigned to the University (outlined in General Regulations Appendix 12).

The resource opens on an external website.

 
A large question mark symbol at the centre, enclosed within a decorative, wavy-edged border resembling a badge or seal. The question mark is bold and black, standing out clearly. The design is simple, minimalistic, and conveys a sense of inquiry or uncertainty to represent a question or unknown information.

Licensing Your Own Work

Open Resource Jar

Using search engines to find resources is convenient, but it can be unclear whether you have permission to use them. This site provides a list of websites offering free resources for reuse. You can browse and search by keyword or category.

The resource opens on an external website.

 
Image of Jar

Open Resource Jar

What is Open Access?   

Open Access Resources   
How Do You Choose a CC License for Your Work?
The colourful infographic from Aston University (licensed CC-BY) is a tree diagram explaining how creators can choose different Creative Commons licenses. It presents green leaves on the tree branches, a blue sky with clouds in the background, and a grassy ground with flowers. The overall design is friendly and visually appealing, making the information accessible and easy to understand. The image is titled Download it here.
What CC Licensed Material Can You Adapt?

When adapting or changing Creative Commons licensed material, consider the licenses’ compatibility. While permitted uses are generally clear, some Creative Commons licenses do not allow adaptations. Use the following chart to ensure your derived work complies with the license terms.

Creative Commons, (CC BY 4.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
What CC Licensed Material Can You Mix Together?

Refer to the table below. Match a license from the left column with one from the top row to find a suitable license for a second work:

  • A ‘tick’ means the works can be remixed.
  • An ‘X’ means they cannot be remixed.

When choosing a license for the remix, opt for the more restrictive of the two to facilitate easier reuse for downstream users.

Creative Commons, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0. Download it from here

  Please note that information on these pages is for guidance only: it should not be construed as formal legal advice.
  • Last Updated: Dec 12, 2024 1:10 PM
  • URL: https://libguides.coventry.ac.uk/copyright
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