====== Creative Commons Licensing ======

[[https://creativecommons.org/|Creative Commons]] (CC) — international nonprofit founded by Lawrence Lessig in 2001. Provides free, standardized copyright licenses for creative works: writing, photos, music, art.

===== License Components =====

^ Symbol ^ Code ^ Meaning ^
| BY | Attribution | Credit must be given to the creator |
| SA | ShareAlike | Derivatives must use the same license |
| NC | NonCommercial | Only non-commercial uses allowed |
| ND | NoDerivatives | No modifications allowed |

===== Common Combinations =====

^ License ^ Code ^ Allows ^
| [[https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/|Attribution]] | CC BY | Any use, with credit |
| [[https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/|Attribution-ShareAlike]] | CC BY-SA | Any use with credit; derivatives must use same license |
| [[https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/|Attribution-NonCommercial]] | CC BY-NC | Non-commercial only, with credit |
| [[https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/|Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike]] | CC BY-NC-SA | Non-commercial + ShareAlike |
| [[https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/|CC0]] | CC0 | Public domain dedication — all rights waived |

===== Why Not NC? =====

The NonCommercial restriction sounds reasonable but is [[https://wiki.creativecommons.org/wiki/NonCommercial_interpretation|notoriously vague in practice]]:

  * Does a site with banner ads count as commercial?
  * What about a creator with a Patreon?
  * A nonprofit selling merchandise?

The ambiguity creates legal uncertainty for anyone who might legitimately want to use your work.

===== Recommended: CC BY-SA =====

The copyleft equivalent for creative works. Parallel to [[guides:copyleft|AGPL for software]]:

  * Anyone can use, share, and adapt your work
  * They must credit you (BY)
  * Derivatives must carry the same license (SA)
  * No ambiguity about commercial use — it's allowed, but the openness is preserved

**Wikipedia is built on CC BY-SA.** Work published under CC BY-SA can be incorporated into Wikipedia and remain there permanently.

===== Remix Culture =====

Culture has always been built on remixing: folk tales retold across generations, hip-hop sampling, fan communities creating transformative works. Copyleft licenses make this legally safe and explicit.

Notable CC-licensed communities:
  * [[https://ccmixter.org/|ccMixter]] — CC-licensed audio samples
  * [[https://freesound.org/|Freesound]] — CC sound library
  * Wikipedia — CC BY-SA

===== Resources =====

  * [[https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/cclicenses/|CC License Chooser]]
  * [[https://creativecommons.org/about/|About Creative Commons]]

===== See Also =====
  * [[guides:start|Guides Index]]

  * [[guides:copyleft|Copyleft Licensing (AGPL for software)]]
  * [[indieweb:principles|IndieWeb Principles]]
  * [[start|Return to wiki home]]