Creative Commons

Video credit: Creative Commons & Copyright Info – posted by U of G Library on YouTube

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With a Creative Common licensed work, I can...
- use the images as long as I attribute the author's work
- use the image without attribution
- use the image as long as I ask for permission to re-use
You're on the right track. If the work is licensed as CC-BY, you will be able to use the image as long as you attribute the author. Keep in mind that the copyright owner may use other forms of CC license such as - Attribution- Non Commercial, which will not allow you to use the copyright owner's work if you are going to use it for commercial use or Attribution - No Derivatives, which would not allow you to modify the original in any way. To learn more about the forms of licensing, and appropriate attribution, visit creativecommons.org.
Not really. The only time when you can use the image without attributing the creator is when the work is licensed under public domain. If the work is licensed under creative commons license, it requires attribution. To learn more about the forms of licensing, and appropriate attribution, visit creativecommons.org.
Not quite. The benefit of Creative Commons license is that, it allows you to use the copyright owner's work without permission as long as you attribute their work. Keep in mind that the copyright owner may use other forms of CC license such as - Attribution- Non Commercial, which will not allow you to use the copyright owner's work if you are going to use it for commercial use or Attribution-No Derivatives which prohibit you from altering it in any way. To learn more about the forms of licensing, and appropriate attribution, visit creativecommons.org.
I just took a picture of my cat. I want people to use my images for mashups, memes, videos and artworks so that my cat will become famous. I should...
- leave my picture as it is.
- license my picture as CC BY
- license my picture as public domain
If you leave your picture as it is, you are making it a little more difficult for people to re-use since they would then need to seek your permission. If you want to make it easy for people to re-use your image (so your cat can become famous) consider licensing your work with a Creative Commons license. Visit the creative commons website to learn which license may be best for you!
Good idea! Licensing your work as CC -BY can encourage other people to use your work for mashups, memes, videos and artwork. Since it is a CC -BY, they will also credit your work! Visit the creative commons website to learn which license may be best for you!
That is also one way. Public Domain will allow people to use your work without asking your permission, and they do not have to attribute. If you want people to attribute your work, you may want to consider using CC-BY license. Visit the creative commons website to learn which license may be best for you!
What's the point of licensing my work with a Creative Common License?
- It makes it easier for others to share and remix my work.
- Many people will use my work
- No point at all. I don't want other people to use my work!
You are on the right track! One of the benefits of licensing your work with a Creative Common License is to make your work easier to remix and share. This may increase the number of people who will use your work! Check out UBC's resources on creative commons here.
Yes. Using Creative Commons license may increase the no. of people who will use your work because the license will tell them exactly how they may use your work. Check out UBC's resources on creative commons here.
If you want to keep others from sharing and re-using your work - that is your choice.

Explore

If you create and post your own work online and want others to be able to see and use it, consider using a Creative Commons license. CC licenses allow you to choose the terms by which others can use your work. For example, you can stipulate that other people credit you, that they do not use your work for monetary gain or that they do not modify your work when using it (i.e. make a derivative based on your original). We use a Creative Commons license on this site which allows users to re-use the content unless otherwise copyrighted (i.e. images or video).

When you create original content, always remember the following:

You automatically have copyright over any material that you have created including writing, photos, music, etc.
Others cannot copy or use what you’ve created without your permission. If you want to allow others to use or share your work consider using a Creative Commons license.
Creative Commons (CC) enables producers of material to allow others to use it without traditional copyright restrictions. Many users of photo sharing websites such as Flickr take advantage of CC so that their works can be distributed and seen by more people.

When using other people’s work:

It’s best to use Creative Commons licensed media. UBC’s Learning Commons has a number of guides to help you find CC works.
Not all Creative Commons licenses are the same. Just because something is CC protected, doesn’t mean that you can use it for whatever you want. Be aware of the different types of Creative Commons licenses.
Always respect copyright! If you are using something that is copyright protected, you cannot copy or use it without the permission of the creator. This is true even if it doesn’t have the ©. If you aren’t sure about copyright, check out some common myths about copyright or visit our page on the Copyright Act.

Discuss

The Digital Tattoo Project encourages critical discussion on topics surrounding digital citizenship and online identity. There are no correct answers and every person will view these topics from a different perspective. Be sure to complete the previous sections before answering the questions.

How do you feel about publishing your own work using a creative commons license?
What are the benefits and deterrents of using creative commons licensing over traditional copyright?

Creative Commons

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