Creative Commons Licenses: Empowering Open Education with Flexible Licensing

Welcome to the following lecture in our webinar series on Open Educational Resources (OERs). This session will explore Creative Commons licenses, a widely-used licensing framework that empowers creators and users to share, adapt, and collaborate on OERs. We will introduce the Creative Commons website (https://creativecommons.org/choose/) and discuss the various licenses available, including CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-NC, and CC0. Additionally, we will delve into the specific permissions and restrictions associated with each license, focusing on attribution and share-alike requirements.

I. Introduction to Creative Commons Licenses:

• Introduce Creative Commons as a globally recognized licensing framework designed to enable the easy sharing and reuse of creative works, including educational resources.

• Explain that Creative Commons licenses provide a standardized approach to open licensing, ensuring clarity and ease of use for creators and users.

II. Overview of Creative Commons Licenses:

A. CC BY (Attribution):

• Describe CC BY as the most permissive Creative Commons license, allowing others to use, adapt, and distribute the licensed work for any purpose, even commercially.

• Emphasize the importance of attribution, whereby users must give appropriate credit to the work's original creator(s).

B. CC BY-SA (Attribution-ShareAlike):

• Explain CC BY-SA as a license that permits adaptation and redistribution, similar to CC BY, but with the additional requirement that derivative works must be licensed under the same or a compatible license.

• Highlight the "share-alike" concept, which promotes the preservation of open licensing and encourages collaboration among creators.

C. CC BY-NC (Attribution-NonCommercial):

• Introduce CC BY-NC as a license that permits adaptation and redistribution, but only for non-commercial purposes.

• Explain the restrictions on commercial use and emphasize the importance of respecting the intent of non-commercial licenses.

D. CC0 (Public Domain):

• Describe CC0 as a tool for dedicating works to the public domain, waiving all copyright and related rights to the extent possible under the law.

• Explain that CC0 allows others to freely use, adapt, and distribute the work without any restrictions, including for commercial purposes.

III. Specific Permissions and Restrictions:

• Discuss the permissions granted by Creative Commons licenses, including the ability to copy, distribute, adapt, and publicly perform the licensed work.

• Explain the restrictions associated with specific licenses, such as non-commercial or share-alike requirements, and the importance of adhering to those restrictions.

IV. Importance of Attribution and Share-Alike Requirements:

A. Attribution:

• Emphasize the significance of attribution in open licensing, as it acknowledges the original creator(s) and promotes transparency in the use of the work.

• Discuss best practices for proper attribution, including the creator's name, the work's title, and a link to the original source.

B. Share-Alike:

• Highlight the share-alike requirement in specific Creative Commons licenses, which ensures that derivative works maintain the same or compatible open licensing.

• Discuss the benefits of share-alike, such as fostering collaboration, contributing to a vibrant ecosystem of open resources, and preventing the appropriation of available content into closed systems.

V. Resources and Further Exploration:

• Encourage participants to explore the Creative Commons website (https://creativecommons.org/choose/) for comprehensive information on their licenses and applications.

Creative Commons licenses are pivotal in promoting open education and facilitating the sharing and adaptation of educational resources. Understanding the various Creative Commons licenses, including CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-NC, and CC0, enables creators and users to make informed decisions about the permissions and restrictions associated with their works. By embracing Creative Commons licenses and upholding the principles of attribution and share-alike, we can collectively build a prosperous and inclusive global knowledge commons that empowers learners and educators worldwide.