Creative Commons licenses let you use someone else's creative work — photos, writing, music, video — under specific conditions they set, instead of asking permission every time
A Creative Commons license is a legal tool that sits between "all rights reserved" (the default copyright) and the public domain (no restrictions at all). When someone puts a Creative Commons license on their work, they are saying: "You can use this under these specific rules." The rules change depending on which of six main licenses they choose. You do not need to contact them or pay them — the license itself gives you permission upfront.
The reason this matters: without a license, you cannot legally use someone else's photo in your blog, remix their song, or adapt their writing without asking first. With a Creative Commons license, you know exactly what you can and cannot do, and you can do it immediately.
Key Takeaways
- Creative Commons licenses let creators share their work with built-in permission rules, so you do not have to ask before using it.
- The six main licenses stack four conditions: Attribution (always required), NonCommercial, NoDerivatives, and ShareAlike — each combination creates a different license.
- You must always credit the creator by name and link to the original work, even if the license does not require it.
- Some licenses let you remix, adapt, or sell work; others forbid it — you must check the specific license before you use the work.
- Finding Creative Commons work is easiest through search filters on Flickr, Unsplash, Pixabay, and specialized sites like Wikimedia Commons.
The six Creative Commons licenses and what each one allows
Every Creative Commons license requires Attribution — you must credit the creator. The other three conditions are optional, and creators mix and match them to create six main licenses:
| License Name | Abbreviation | What You Can Do | What You Cannot Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attribution | CC BY | Use, remix, adapt, sell. Full freedom with credit. | Remove the creator's name or claim you made it. |
| Attribution-ShareAlike | CC BY-SA | Use, remix, adapt, sell — but your version must use the same license. | Use a stricter license for your adapted version. |
| Attribution-NonCommercial | CC BY-NC | Use, remix, adapt for non-profit purposes only. | Sell it or use it to make money directly. |
| Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike | CC BY-NC-SA | Use, remix, adapt for non-profit only, with same license on your version. | Sell it or use a different license for your version. |
| Attribution-NoDerivatives | CC BY-ND | Use and share as-is, even commercially. | Change, remix, or adapt it in any way. |
| Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives | CC BY-NC-ND | Use and share as-is for non-profit only. | Change it or use it to make money. |
The most permissive is CC BY — you can do almost anything as long as you credit the creator. The most restrictive is CC BY-NC-ND — you can only use it unchanged and cannot make money from it. Most creators choose one of the four middle licenses because they want credit and some control over how their work is used.
How to find and use Creative Commons work
Many websites let you filter search results to show only Creative Commons licensed content. Flickr has a search filter for Creative Commons photos. Pixabay and Unsplash host free photos under CC BY or similar licenses. Wikimedia Commons holds millions of images, maps, and documents, most under CC BY-SA. YouTube lets creators mark videos as Creative Commons in the upload settings, and you can filter for them in the advanced search.
When you find something you want to use, check the license badge or link on the page. It will tell you which of the six licenses applies. Read the specific conditions — "NonCommercial" means you cannot use it in a business context, even if you are not selling the work itself. If you are unsure whether your use fits, err on the side of caution or contact the creator.
Always keep a record of where you found the work and what the license said. If someone later questions your use, you need to show you followed the license terms.
What "attribution" actually means and how to do it correctly
Attribution does not mean a tiny link at the bottom of the page. The Creative Commons organization recommends you include: the creator's name, the title of the work, the license type (CC BY, CC BY-SA, etc.), and a link to both the original work and the license itself. For a photo in a blog post, that might look like: "Photo by Jane Smith, licensed under CC BY 2.0."
The exact format depends on your medium. In a video, you can put credits in the description. In a podcast, you can mention it in the show notes. In a printed book, you can add it to the credits page. The key is that someone reading or viewing your work can find out who made the original and under what license.
If the creator has asked for a specific format — some do — follow that instead. Check the license page or the original work's metadata for instructions.
When you cannot use Creative Commons work even if you find it
A Creative Commons license only covers the copyright in that specific work. It does not cover other legal issues. If a photo contains a person's face, you may still need their permission to use it commercially, depending on your location's privacy laws. If a song samples another song, the Creative Commons license covers only the remix artist's contribution, not the original sample.
Trademarks are not covered either. You can use a Creative Commons logo or brand image under the license, but you cannot use it in a way that suggests the original creator endorses your product.
If the work contains material that is itself copyrighted — a photo of a copyrighted painting, for example — the license covers only the photograph, not the painting inside it. You would need separate permission to use the painting.
The difference between Creative Commons and public domain
Public domain means the work has no copyright at all — anyone can use it for any reason with no restrictions. Creative Commons licenses still have copyright; the creator just chose to let you use it under specific terms. If a license expires or the creator changes their mind, they can remove the license (though this does not affect work you already used legally).
Public domain works include government documents, very old books and photos, and works the creator explicitly released into the public domain. You can tell a work is public domain if it has a "CC0" label or says "public domain" explicitly. With public domain work, you do not need to credit the creator, though it is still good practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a Creative Commons photo on my business website?
It depends on the license. CC BY, CC BY-SA, and CC BY-ND allow commercial use. CC BY-NC, CC BY-NC-SA, and CC BY-NC-ND do not. Check the license badge on the photo before you download it. If it says "NonCommercial," you cannot use it on a for-profit site.
What happens if I use Creative Commons work without crediting the creator?
You are breaking the license terms. The creator could ask you to remove it, file a copyright claim, or take legal action. Even if they do not, you are still in violation. Always include attribution, even if you think no one will notice.
Can I edit or remix Creative Commons work?
Only if the license allows it. CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-NC, and CC BY-NC-SA all allow remixing and adaptation. CC BY-ND and CC BY-NC-ND do not — you must use them as-is. Check the license before you start editing.
If I remix Creative Commons work under CC BY-SA, what license do I have to use for my version?
You must use CC BY-SA as well — the same license. This is called "copyleft." Your adapted version has to be available under the same terms so others can remix your version too. If you use CC BY instead, you are violating the ShareAlike condition.
Where is the best place to find Creative Commons music?
Wikimedia Commons, Free Music Archive, and ccMixter all host music under Creative Commons licenses. YouTube's Audio Library also has thousands of tracks you can use in videos. Always check the specific license on each track — music licenses vary widely in what they allow.