What Are Creative Commons Licenses? May 2026

Creators build a license by combining four primary elements, each represented by a specific icon:

The work can only be used for purposes not primarily intended for commercial advantage or monetary compensation. What are Creative Commons Licenses?

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 Creators build a license by combining four primary

Required by all six licenses, this condition mandates that users give proper credit to the original creator. What are Creative Commons Licenses?