A Creative Commons license tells you what you can do with someone's creative work without asking permission first

A Creative Commons license is a legal agreement that lets creators share their work — photos, music, writing, video, software — on their own terms. Instead of the default "all rights reserved" that comes with copyright, a Creative Commons license says: "You can use this work if you follow these rules." The rules change depending on which of six main licenses the creator picks. You don't need to ask permission, pay money, or contact the creator — the license itself gives you permission upfront.

Creative Commons licenses exist because copyright law is strict by default. The moment you create something, you own all the rights to it. That means technically, someone can't copy it, modify it, or share it without your permission — even in ways that seem reasonable. Creative Commons licenses loosen those restrictions in specific ways, so creators can share their work more freely while still protecting their interests.

Key Takeaways

  • Creative Commons licenses come in six main types, each allowing different uses — some let you modify and sell the work, others only let you share it unchanged.
  • The license is attached to the work itself, so you know the rules before you use it; you don't need to contact the creator or sign anything.
  • All Creative Commons licenses require you to give credit to the creator, even if the license allows modification or commercial use.
  • A Creative Commons license does not override other laws — you still can't use someone's work in a way that violates trademark, privacy, or defamation laws.
  • Software under Creative Commons licenses is different from software under open-source licenses like GPL, which have stricter rules about sharing modified versions.

The six main Creative Commons licenses and what each one permits

Creative Commons publishes six standard licenses, each identified by abbreviations and icons. The two core restrictions are: whether you can modify the work, and whether you can use it commercially. Every license requires attribution — you must credit the creator.

CC BY (Attribution) is the most permissive. You can copy, modify, and use the work commercially, as long as you credit the creator. A photographer might use this for a portfolio image they want others to remix and build on.

CC BY-SA (Attribution-ShareAlike) lets you modify and use the work commercially, but any modified version must use the same license. This creates a chain: if you remix it, others can remix your remix under the same terms. Wikipedia uses this for its content.

CC BY-NC (Attribution-NonCommercial) lets you modify the work, but only for non-commercial purposes. You can't sell it or use it to make money. A musician might use this for a song they want remixed by fans, but not licensed to advertisers.

CC BY-NC-SA (Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike) combines the restrictions: no commercial use, and any modified version must use the same license. This is common for educational materials.

CC BY-ND (Attribution-NoDerivatives) lets you copy and share the work, even commercially, but you cannot modify it. You can republish a photo or article as-is, but not edit it. This protects the creator's original vision.

CC BY-NC-ND (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives) is the most restrictive Creative Commons license. You can only share the work unchanged and for non-commercial purposes. It's close to traditional copyright but still lets people share it freely.

How to find and use Creative Commons licensed work

Creative Commons licensed work appears across the internet. Flickr, Unsplash, Pixabay, and Wikimedia Commons host images under Creative Commons licenses. YouTube videos, music on Free Music Archive, and writing on Medium can all carry Creative Commons licenses. The creator chooses which license to attach when they upload.

When you find a work with a Creative Commons license, the license is usually displayed near it — you'll see the CC logo and the specific license type (BY, BY-SA, BY-NC, etc.). Read the license before you use the work. If it says BY-NC, you cannot use it in a commercial project. If it says ND, you cannot edit it.

To use the work legally, you must give credit to the creator. The amount of credit varies by license, but typically you need to include the creator's name, the title of the work, and a link to the original. Some licenses ask for more detail. Check the specific license page on creativecommons.org for the exact attribution format the creator prefers.

What Creative Commons licenses do not cover

A Creative Commons license only covers copyright — the right to copy, modify, and distribute the work. It does not cover other legal issues. If a photo contains someone's face, the Creative Commons license does not give you the right to use that person's image for advertising or in a way that violates their privacy. If a song samples another copyrighted song, the license does not clear that sample.

Trademarks, patents, and moral rights are also outside the scope. If a work contains a trademarked logo, you still cannot use that logo in a way that confuses consumers about who made it. The license assumes the creator had the right to license the work in the first place — if they didn't, the license doesn't fix that.

Creative Commons licenses also do not may provide the work is free from defects or that it will do what you want. The creator provides it "as-is." If you use a Creative Commons licensed image and it turns out to have a hidden watermark, or a piece of code has a security flaw, the license does not make the creator liable.

Creative Commons licenses versus open-source software licenses

Software sometimes carries a Creative Commons license, but most open-source software uses different licenses — GPL, MIT, Apache, and others. These licenses are designed specifically for code and have different rules.

The main difference: many open-source licenses require you to share your modified version under the same license (called "copyleft"). GPL, for example, says if you modify the code and distribute it, you must release your modified version as open-source too. Creative Commons BY-SA has a similar rule, but most Creative Commons licenses do not.

Also, open-source licenses focus on source code and how it can be used, modified, and distributed. Creative Commons licenses are broader and work for any creative work — images, writing, music. If you're using software, check whether it has an open-source license (usually listed in a LICENSE file) rather than assuming a Creative Commons license applies.

When a creator uses no license at all

If a work has no license mentioned, assume it is protected by copyright and you cannot use it without permission. The creator owns all rights. This is true even if the work is posted online or seems abandoned. No license means no permission.

Some creators forget to add a license, or they don't know about Creative Commons. If you want to use something that has no license, contact the creator and ask. They may be willing to license it retroactively, or they may give you permission in writing. Without one or the other, using the work puts you at legal risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a Creative Commons licensed image in a commercial project if the license says BY-NC?

No. BY-NC means non-commercial use only. You cannot use it in a project where you make money, even if you credit the creator. If you need the image for commercial work, you must find a version with a different license, get permission from the creator, or use a different image.

Do I have to credit the creator if the license says I can use the work commercially?

Yes. Every Creative Commons license requires attribution. You must credit the creator even if the license is CC BY or CC BY-SA. The license specifies how to format the credit — usually the creator's name, the work's title, and a link to the original.

If I modify a Creative Commons licensed image, do I need to use the same license?

Only if the license says ShareAlike (SA). CC BY-SA and CC BY-NC-SA require modified versions to use the same license. CC BY, CC BY-NC, CC BY-ND, and CC BY-NC-ND do not have this requirement — you can modify and license the result however you want, as long as you credit the original creator and follow any other restrictions (like non-commercial use).

What if I find a Creative Commons licensed work but the creator's name is missing?

Try to find the original source. Search the image or text online, or check the website where you found it — there may be metadata or a link to the creator. If you genuinely cannot find the creator's name after a reasonable search, document what you tried and credit them as "Unknown Creator" or "Author Unknown." This shows good faith, though it does not fully satisfy the attribution requirement.

Can I sell a print of a Creative Commons licensed photo if the license is CC BY?

Yes, if the license is CC BY or CC BY-SA. Both allow commercial use. You can print and sell the photo as long as you credit the creator. If the license is CC BY-NC or CC BY-NC-ND, you cannot sell it.