Applicable works
Work licensed under a Creative Commons license is governed by applicable copyright law.[10] This allows Creative Commons licenses to be applied to all work falling under copyright, including: books, plays, movies, music, articles, photographs, blogs, and websites.
While Software is also governed by copyright law and CC licenses are applicable, the Creative Commons recommends Free and open-source software software licenses instead of Creative Commons licenses.[11] Outside the FOSS licensing use case for software there are several usage examples to utilize CC licenses to specify a "Freeware" license model; examples are The White Chamber, Mari0 or Assault Cube.[12] Also the Free Software Foundation recommends the CC0[13] as the preferred method of releasing software into the public domain.[14]
However, application of a Creative Commons license may not modify the rights allowed by fair use or fair dealing or exert restrictions which violate copyright exceptions.[15] Furthermore, Creative Commons licenses are non-exclusive and non-revocable.[16] Any work or copies of the work obtained under a Creative Commons license may continue to be used under that license.[17]
In the case of works protected by multiple Creative Commons licenses, the user may choose either.[18]
Seven regularly used licenses
Icon | Description | Shortening | Attribution Required | Allows Remix culture | Allows commercial use | Allows Free Cultural Works | Meets the OKF 'Open Definition' |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Freeing content globally without restrictions | CC0 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Attribution alone | BY | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Attribution + ShareAlike | BY-SA | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Attribution + Noncommercial | BY-NC | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
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Attribution + Noncommercial + ShareAlike | BY-NC-SA | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
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Attribution + NoDerivatives | BY-ND | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
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Attribution + Noncommercial + NoDerivatives | BY-NC-ND | Yes | No | No | No | No |