Creative Commons Licenses: Pros and Cons of Each

As both an idealist and a skeptic

By Lisa Rein, lisa@lisarein.com

Updated: July 21, 2009

Each license has a "Commons Deed" that explains the legal requirements of each license in plain English. A direct link to the actual license text is also provided.

Click on the "Choose this license" below each license title to be taken to a page where you can cut and paste the appropriate HTML code for that license into your webpage. The HTML code will display an icon on your webpage to inform the public about which license you've chosen.

Name of License	Description	Pros	Cons
by nc nd Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives Choose this license Commons Deed Legal Code	Most Restrictive (closest to traditional Copyright) Requires Attribution Allows for redistribution People can download People can make it available for download on their own site, provided they link back to you People can not modify to create derivative works People can not use commercially (can't sell it)	"Free Advertising" License - allows others to do the duplication and re-distribution for you Protection from people modifing your work if they use, (must be used ""verbatim"") in order to preserve the original integrity of the work Cannot create any derivative works that you have no control over that might place your work in an unfavorable light Protects you from people selling anything using your work and not paying you for it	Derivative works are the hottest thing going right now. "remixes" and "mashups" are a great way to gain exposure for you as an artist. You are shutting yourself off from having your works used in creative projects if you don't allow derivative works. No Derivative works option may be too restrictive if artist isn't sure how their work is going to come out in the end (as potentially a derivative work). Nicer to use a license that lets you keep your options open. Non-commercial option too restrictive for artists who might want to stay open to making money on the work in the future or are just plain unsure what exactly they will be doing with their finished product Non-commercial option too restrictive for Professions who are already planning on selling their creations. (Allowing professionals to make money on their work could feature the artists work in conjunction with "professionals," and give the artist more positive exposure by being used professionally.)
by nc sa Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike Choose this license Commons Deed Legal Code	Requires Attribution Allows for redistribution People can download People can make it available for download on their own site, provided they link back to you People can not use commercially (can't sell it) People are allowed to make derivative works (meaning that they can tweak, build upon, remix or otherwise modify) Derivative works are required to use the same license	Also a "Free Advertising" License - allows others to do the duplication and re-distribution for you Derivative works are the hottest thing going right now. "remixes" and "mashups" are a great way to gain exposure for you as an artist. Derivatives will carry same license, which gives back to artistic community in the true spirit of Creative Commons by contributing to a voluntary Public Domain	Non-commercial option may be too restrictive for artists who might want to stay open to making money on the work in the future or are just plain unsure what exactly they will be doing with their finished product Non-commercial option may be too restrictive for Professions who are already planning on selling their creations. (Allowing professionals to make money on their work could feature the artists work in conjunction with "professionals," and give the artist more positive exposure by being used professionally.) Share alike option may be too restrictive for professionals or independents who don't want to limit future uses.
by nc Attribution Non-commercial Choose this license Commons Deed Legal Code	Requires Attribution Allows for redistribution People can download People can make it available for download on their own site, provided they link back to you People can not use commercially (can't sell it) People are allowed to make derivative works (meaning that they can tweak, build upon, remix or otherwise modify) Derivative works are not required be released under the same license	Also a "Free Advertising" License - allows others to do the duplication and re-distribution for you Derivative works are the hottest thing going right now. "remixes" and "mashups" are a great way to gain exposure for you as an artist. Not requiring a specific license gives more freedom to potential re-users Protects you from people selling anything using your work and not paying you for it	Non-commercial option may be too restrictive for artists who might want to stay open to making money on the work in the future or are just plain unsure what exactly they will be doing with their finished product Non-commercial option may be too restrictive for Professions who are already planning on selling their creations. (Allowing professionals to make money on their work could feature the artists work in conjunction with "professionals," and give the artist more positive exposure by being used professionally.) Derivative works could potentially be "locked up" under a more restrictive license Loss of control over derivative works that could place your work in an unfavorable light
by nd Attribution No Derivatives Choose this license Commons Deed Legal Code	Requires Attribution Allows for redistribution People can download People can make it available for download on their own site, provided they link back to you People can not modify to create derivative works - must use your work "verbatim" People can use commercially (they are allowed sell the work they create)	"Free Advertising" License - allows others to do the duplication and re-distribution for you Protection from people modifing your work if they use, (must be used ""verbatim"") in order to preserve the original integrity of the work Cannot create any derivative works that you have no control over that might place your work in an unfavorable light Allows your work to be considered for professional usage or broadcast usage. Although you may not be paid for it, it will give you positive exposure to be used professionally.	Derivative works are the hottest thing going right now. "remixes" and "mashups" are a great way to gain exposure for you as an artist. You are shutting yourself off from having your works used in creative projects if you don't allow derivative works. No Derivative works option may be too restrictive if artist isn't sure how their work is going to come out in the end (as potentially a derivative work). Nicer to use a license that lets you keep your options open. May not be paid for commercial uses of your work.
by sa Attribution Share Alike Choose this license Commons Deed Legal Code	Requires Attribution Allows for redistribution People can download People can make it available for download on their own site, provided they link back to you People are allowed to make derivative works (meaning that they can tweak, build upon, remix or otherwise modify) Derivative works are required to use the same license People can use commercially (they are allowed sell the work they create)	"Free Advertising" License - allows others to do the duplication and re-distribution for you Derivative works are the hottest thing going right now. "remixes" and "mashups" are a great way to gain exposure for you as an artist. Derivatives will carry same license, which gives back to artistic community in the true spirit of Creative Commons by contributing to a voluntary Public Domain More freedom for re-users because commercial uses are allowed (for all uses)	Share alike option may be too restrictive for professionals or independents who don't want to limit future uses. May not be paid for commercial uses of your work Loss of control over derivative works that could place your work in an unfavorable light
by Attribution Choose this license Commons Deed Legal Code	Least restrictive of Creative Commons licenses Requires Attribution Allows for redistribution People can download People can make it available for download on their own site, provided they link back to you People are allowed to make derivative works (meaning that they can tweak, build upon, remix or otherwise modify) Derivative works are not required be released under the same license People can use commercially (they are allowed sell the work they create)	Also a "Free Advertising" License - allows others to do the duplication and re-distribution for you Derivative works are the hottest thing going right now. "remixes" and "mashups" are a great way to gain exposure for you as an artist. Not requiring a specific license gives more freedom to potential re-users Allows your work to be considered for professional usage or broadcast usage. Although you may not be paid for it, it will give you positive exposure to be used professionally. More freedom for re-users because commercial uses are allowed (for all uses)	Derivative works could potentially be "locked up" under a more restrictive license Loss of control over derivative works that could place your work in an unfavorable light May not be paid for commercial uses of your work.
Public Domain Choose the Public Domain Public Domain Dedicatioin	No attribution required Derivative works (or any thing else) allowed People can use commercially Anything goes	Your work will survive after you. People know they are free to use your work however they'd like Nice gesture toward rebuilding the commons Makes a statement about the work's placement within culture - depending on the source material (which may itself be from the Public Domain) Attribution often given anyway, although not required More freedom for re-users because commercial and all other uses are allowed Never know what neat creative work someone might create from it, since they are free to do whatever they like.	Don't automatically receive revenue from the work (Although you could still benefit financially from it being used, after gaining more exposure.) Attribution not required Complete loss of creative control