The Magic of OERs
Creative Commons helps one to legally share knowledge and creativity to build a more equitable, accessible, and innovative world. There are certain terms that one needs to understand when using work marked with a Creative Commons license.
Attribution (by): All CC licenses require that others who use your work in any way must give you credit the way you request, but not in a way that suggests you endorse them or their use. If they want to use your work without giving you credit or for endorsement purposes, they must get your permission first.[4]
Attribution, ShareAlike: Along with attribution, ShareAlike means others may copy, distribute, display, perform, and modify your work, as long as they distribute the modified work on the same terms. If they want to distribute modified works under other terms, they need to take the permission of the original creator first.
Attribution, No Derivatives: One gives the original attribution and one cannot make any changes in the original matter. It implies that while one can use the work for any commercial or noncommercial educational purpose, one must provide the license-required credit and not alter the work in any way.
Attribution, Non Commercial: Then work needs to be attributed and can only be used for non commercial purposes. (Under the Creative Commons license, “commercial” is defined as “primarily intended for commercial advantage or monetary gain”.)
Watch this video to understand licenses used under Creative Commons
Test yourself
- What licenses should be used in the following cases?
- Michael releases his music creation. He wants his name to be cited and no change to be made in the composition.
- Shona writes a textbook and wants it to be used with her name cited. She permits it to be copied, distributed and edited.
- Charmaine creates a course for prospective teachers. She wants it to be credited to her and permits changes as long as it is distributed with the kind of license she has chosen for her work.
- John has made a presentation that can be used by others. He wants to be acknowledged as the creator,expects no changes to be made and does not permit it to be used for moneymaking.