The Creative Commons provides an alternative licensing system so that authors, musicians and other creators can grant rights to the public to use their work without payment but still retain control over their copyright material. Schools can use Creative Commons resources such as music, film clips and photographs in their projects and teaching resources free of charge.
Conditions for using Creative Commons and other material
The licence terms under which items are available on these websites vary. Generally, you are asked to attribute (acknowledge) the name of the original creator when you use a copy of their work. Others require you to attribute the original creator and send them a copy of any resources you create which incorporate their material. Check the licence terms on each item before use.
Creative Commons Licence Symbols
Creative Commons licensed material can be identified by the use of one of the following symbols. Usually a notice with the words “Some Rights Reserved” will appear with one or more of these symbols. More information about the symbols used in Creative Commons licences is available.
Licence |
Symbol |
Type of Use |
You Can |
Attribution Required |
Attribution (by) |
|
Commercial and non commercial |
Copy and enhance (adapt or modify), redistribute (publish, display, exhibit, publicly perform or communicate eg by email or by placing on a website) and license to others on any terms. |
Yes |
Attribution Share Alike (by-sa) |
|
Commercial and non commercial |
Copy, enhance and redistribute but you must make the new work available on same licence terms as original |
Yes |
Attribution No Derivatives (by-nd) |
|
Commercial and non commercial |
Copy but not enhance. Redistribute only in original form. |
Yes |
Attribution Non-commercial (by-nc) |
|
Non Commercial only |
Copy, enhance and redistribute. License to others on any terms. |
Yes |
Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike (by-nc-sa) |
|
Non Commercial only |
Copy, enhance and redistribute but you must make the new work available on same licence terms as original |
Yes |
Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd) |
|
Non commercial only |
Copy but not enhance. Redistribute only in original form. |
Yes. |
Attribution Only Licences 
“Attribution Only” licences (see for example, the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence) are the easiest to use. These licences allow you to copy and enhance (adapt or modify) the source material and make your version available to others (redistribute) as long as you attribute the creator of the original material.
How to attribute Creative Commons material
You should always attribute the original work by adding a notice giving the following information. These details can usually be found on the original item.
However, you are only expected to provide this information in a form which is reasonable in the circumstances. This will depend on the information available about the original item, the way you are using the item and the space available. On a film, for example, it would be reasonable to add the name of the creator of the item with the Creative Commons details as a “credit” at the end of the film. If space is limited, for example, in the case of a photograph, list the name of the original photographer and the Creative Commons licence details under the photo.
Example 1: Chart on Volcanos found on Flickr
Made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution Licence: commercial and non-commercial use permitted; can be copied, enhanced and redistributed but attribution is required.
Suggested Attribution: Original Chart: Cogdogblog (Flickr) |
Example 2: Graphic from Course Outline and Materials for “The Brain and Cognitive Sciences”, MITOpenCourseWare, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Made available under “Creative CommonsAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Licence 2.5”: for non commercial use only; can be copied, enhanced and redistributed but attribution is required. New work must be made available on same licence terms as original.
Suggested Attribution: Original Photography: MITOpenCourseWare |
Creative Commons and other Open Access
Resources on the Web
| Note to Teachers: Students should be supervised when searching these databases – some material may not be suitable for younger students. |
Information about Creative Commons
Search tools for finding Creative Commons and Open Access resources
These sites have material which is searchable by how they can be used, including whether they are under a Creative Commons licence:
Web resources where all material is CC licensed or open access
Text
Images
Sound
Video
Collections
Other
Web resources where some material is CC licensed or open access
Images
Video
Other
For further information on the use of Creative Commons resources in schools, please contact the National Copyright Unit on (02) 9561 1204 or email Delia Browne, National Copyright Director.
A Summary of the Copyright Amendment Act 2006
Copyright Implications of Content Management Systems: Schools
Copyright Implications of Content Management Systems: TAFE
Creative Commons Resources for Schools
Performance and communication of works and audio visual material in class
Format shifting and the Copyright Amendment Act 2006
Screening Pirated DVDs in Schools
The new flexible dealings exception
Using Material from The Le@rning Federation Government Schools and Licence A & E
Using Material from The Le@rning Federation Non-Government Schools and Licence D
Copyright Protection Measures and the Copyright Amendment Act 2006
Parody, Satire and the Copyright Amendment Act 2006
Labelling Print Material - Schools
