An Easy Introduction to Creative Commons

Creative Commons is something I now believe all bloggers should know about. While I heard about Creative Commons a while ago it was only after talking to Yoav the other day it struck me how ideal for web content creators, and bloggers in particular, their license idea really is.

What is a Creative Commons License?

Creative Commons license allow you to control how your work is shared and used while retaining the rights that are meaningful to you. They are controlled by a non-profit organisation who oversees the various licenses and promotes them. Using a Creative Commons license you can spread your work and ideas, and even have people create their own work using it as a base, while you still retain your ownership of it.

So it means giving up my copyright?

No, it just means you are allowing certain uses while stating certain things, for example “anyone can use this work however they like providing they credit me and it is not for commercial purposes”. It’s not giving up control, it is about being very specific in how much control you want.

Why is Creative Commons beneficial?

With Creative Commons you are explicitly informing people what rights you are allowing for the use of your work. There are a growing number of people who specifically seek out CC licensed work for use in their own projects, for example looking for a video or photograph to illustrate a point. You can even search for CC licensed material.

People will use your work then attribute you. Your ideas spread, your name gets known. Attribution means links and a growing reputation.

Ever heard of Chocolate Rain? You might not have if it wasn’t for the Creative Commons.

How do you use Creative Commons licenses?

Creative Commons LicenseTo license your work under Creative Commons you simply have to choose the license that is right for you and your work. If you want people to share your work non-commercially but not alter it, for example, then the “Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported” is probably right for you. It looks scarier than it is, just head over to the official site and take a quick read through then attach a “some rights reserved” button.

Summary

If you really want your ideas and name to spread, consider Creative Commons. You will remove obstacles and might even get more attention.

Do you use Creative Commons licenses or plan to in future? Let us know in the comments …

Posted on August 14, 2007 by Chris Garrett 
Filed Under Creative Commons

Comments

5 Responses to “An Easy Introduction to Creative Commons”

  1. Codswallop » Creative Commons For Bloggers on August 16th, 2007 12:54 pm

    [...] our last post on Creative Commons I explained the general ideas behind licensing your content and some of the advantages this gives [...]

  2. Ahmed on August 19th, 2007 4:20 am

    hi nice post, i enjoyed it

  3. Michelle at Scribbit on August 23rd, 2007 3:31 am

    My husband is an attorney so I turned to him the first time I saw a CC button and asked him about its efficacy. He said (and my experience back in Communication Law backs it up) that it’s really unnecessary. You already hold the copyright to any work you’ve produced even if there isn’t a CC license listed on your site. It seems to me that anyone who would be low enough to plagiarize someone’s work wouldn’t be stopped by a CC license anyway and most legitimate bloggers know how to properly attribute and link as it is. I don’t want to sound so negative but I guess what I’m saying is that someone who’s going to steal will do it regardless of whether you’ve gone to the extra work and effort to get a CC license. It’s just extra work without any added benefit.

  4. Chris Garrett on August 23rd, 2007 12:15 pm

    @Ahmed - thanks!

    @Michelle - It isn’t really for plagiarism though, at least in my mind. The way I see it is some honest people will be put off by uncertainty, CC gives clear information about what is and what isn’t allowed. Added to that more people are *searching* for CC licensed content, it makes it worth at least looking into.

  5. Viv King on August 23rd, 2007 8:13 pm

    hi. I am interested in your creative commons post - am I right in thinking it originated in Grahamstown, South Africa = I seem to remember reading about it there first - I would like to find out more - no time at the mo….cooking for husband, family, etc, no time no time….I like what i see here about time management, good stuff

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