Creative Commons (CC) Licenses in Permissive Licensing Models

What are Creative Commons (CC) Licenses?

Creative Commons licenses are a set of public licenses designed to provide creators with a standardized way to grant permission for the public to use their creative works under copyright law.

The Permissive Nature of CC Licenses

CC licenses fall under the category of permissive licensing models. These licenses are designed to be more flexible and accommodating than traditional copyright licenses. They allow creators to specify the terms under which others can use their work while retaining some level of control.

Standardized Permission Levels

CC licenses offer a range of standardized permission levels, allowing creators to choose the degree of freedom they want to grant to the public. These permission levels include:

1. Attribution (CC BY)

– This license allows others to use the work, even for commercial purposes, as long as they provide proper attribution to the original creator.

2. ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)

– Under this license, derivative works must be licensed under the same terms (ShareAlike), ensuring that modifications and adaptations carry the same permissive nature.

3. NoDerivatives (CC BY-ND)

– This license permits others to download the works and share them with others as long as they credit the creator, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially.

4. NonCommercial (CC BY-NC)

– This license allows others to use the work for non-commercial purposes only, with proper attribution.

5. NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC BY-NC-SA)

– This license combines the NonCommercial and ShareAlike restrictions, allowing for non-commercial use and requiring derivative works to be licensed under the same terms.

6. NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND)

– This is the most restrictive CC license, allowing others to download the works and share them with others as long as they credit the creator, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially.

The Role of CC Licenses in Permissive Models

In permissive licensing models, CC licenses provide a legal framework for creators to balance sharing their work with retaining certain rights and control. These licenses have become popular for various creative works, including text, images, music, and more, enabling a culture of sharing and collaboration on a global scale.