What Are Creative Commons Licenses?
Creative Commons (CC) licenses are a standardized set of copyright licenses that allow creators to share their work with the public while retaining certain rights. Instead of a blanket "all rights reserved" copyright, CC licenses let you say exactly what others can and cannot do with your work — for free, with no legal fees.
There are six main Creative Commons licenses, each built from four core conditions. Understanding these conditions is the key to understanding all CC licenses.
The Four Core CC Conditions
- BY (Attribution): Others must give appropriate credit to the creator. Present in ALL CC licenses.
- NC (NonCommercial): Others may not use the work for commercial purposes.
- ND (NoDerivatives): Others may not create derivative works (no remixing, adapting, or building upon the work).
- SA (ShareAlike): Derivatives must be released under the same license as the original.
The Six CC Licenses
1. CC BY — Attribution Only
The most permissive CC license. Anyone can use, share, adapt, and commercialize your work as long as they credit you. Great for maximum reach and impact.
2. CC BY-SA — Attribution + ShareAlike
Like CC BY, but derivatives must carry the same license. Often called the "copyleft" of creative licenses — similar in spirit to the GPL for software. Wikipedia uses this license.
3. CC BY-NC — Attribution + NonCommercial
Allows sharing and adapting, but only for non-commercial purposes. Good for creators who want to share freely with the public but reserve commercial rights.
4. CC BY-NC-SA — Attribution + NonCommercial + ShareAlike
Non-commercial use only, and derivatives must carry the same license. A popular choice for educational materials and community projects.
5. CC BY-ND — Attribution + NoDerivatives
Others can redistribute the work (commercially or not), but they cannot modify it. Good for press releases, official statements, or works where integrity is critical.
6. CC BY-NC-ND — Attribution + NonCommercial + NoDerivatives
The most restrictive CC license. Non-commercial use only, and no modifications allowed. Essentially "you can share it, but don't change it and don't profit from it."
Comparison Table
| License | Commercial Use | Modifications | ShareAlike Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC BY | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| CC BY-SA | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| CC BY-NC | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| CC BY-NC-SA | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| CC BY-ND | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| CC BY-NC-ND | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
CC0: The Public Domain Dedication
Beyond the six licenses, Creative Commons also offers CC0 (pronounced "CC Zero"), which allows creators to waive all copyright and place their work in the public domain. With CC0, no credit is required and there are no restrictions whatsoever. It's ideal for datasets, reference works, and materials meant for unrestricted public use.
How to Apply a CC License to Your Work
- Visit creativecommons.org/choose to use the license chooser tool
- Select your preferences (allow commercial use? allow modifications?)
- Copy the generated license text or badge
- Add it to your work — on your website, in your document footer, in image metadata, etc.
Important Limitations to Know
- CC licenses are irrevocable — once applied, you cannot revoke a license from someone who already received it
- CC licenses do not cover trademarks or patent rights
- CC licenses apply to the copyright in your work, not to any underlying content you don't own