Copyright

This section covers works that can be used without requesting permission or relying on a fair use analysis. 

These works include:

• Works in the public domain
• Creative Commons licensed content
• Open Education and Open Access Resources 

Not all creative works are protected by copyright; many belong to the public domain. The public domain refers to works that are free for anyone to use without needing permission, as they are not subject to copyright law. This typically includes works where the copyright has expired, been forfeited, explicitly waived, is inapplicable, or those published by the U.S. federal government.

For help determining when works are likely to enter the public domain please see the Cornell Copyright Term & Public Domain chart.

Creative Commons is a non-profit organization that distributes free, standardized licenses that enables authors to give others permission to share and use their creative work. All Creative Commons licenses require some form of attribution, which requires users to give authors credit for their original work. 

This infographic provides an overview of the various CC licenses and their terms. ​​​​​This work is a CC0 Public Domain Dedication. Access a transcript of the graphic. Visit the Creative Commons website to gain a full understanding of the six primary CC licenses.