What Are Creative Commons Licenses? Apr 2026

Users may share the work in its original form, but they cannot distribute any modified or adapted versions. The Six Standard Licenses A Simple Guide to Creative Commons

Creators build a license by combining four primary elements, each represented by a specific icon: What are Creative Commons Licenses?

The work can only be used for purposes not primarily intended for commercial advantage or monetary compensation. Users may share the work in its original

Required by all six licenses, this condition mandates that users give proper credit to the original creator. If a user creates an adaptation of the

If a user creates an adaptation of the work, they must license their new creation under the same or a compatible license.

Creative Commons (CC) licenses are a set of standardized legal tools that allow creators to grant the public permission to use their copyrighted work under specific conditions . Founded in 2001 to bridge the gap between "all rights reserved" copyright and the public domain, these licenses enable a "some rights reserved" approach. Core License Elements