Rights and licences
How to verify an open licence before downloading media
“Publicly reachable” does not mean “free to copy.” Identify the licence, its conditions, and your evidence before submitting a URL.
What does an open licence do?
An open licence lets a rights holder grant permissions in advance, such as copying, sharing, or making adaptations. Each licence has its own conditions; an icon or the word “free” is not enough evidence.
Common licence types
| Type | What to check before downloading |
|---|---|
| CC0 | The owner waives rights as far as the law permits. Privacy, trade mark, publicity, and depicted-person rights may still apply. |
| CC BY | Broad reuse is allowed, but you must credit the creator, source, and licence and indicate changes. |
| CC BY-SA | In addition to attribution, adaptations must use the same or a compatible licence. |
| CC BY-NC | Use is limited to non-commercial purposes as defined by the licence. Advertising, sales, or branded content may not qualify. |
| CC BY-ND | Distribution of adaptations is not permitted. Cropping, editing, or conversion may create issues; keep the original unchanged or obtain separate permission. |
| Custom licence | Read the source terms covering downloads, copies, duration, territory, channels, and modifications. |
Public domain is not the same as CC0
A work may enter the public domain because copyright expired or for another legal reason. The answer can vary by country, version of the work, and related rights. CC0 is a tool deliberately applied by a rights holder. Do not assume an old work is automatically public domain.
Evidence checklist
- Record the work's title, creator or publisher, and publication-page URL.
- Save the licence name and version and the date you checked it.
- Confirm that the licensor appears to control the rights in the file.
- Match your use: commercial or non-commercial, unchanged or adapted.
- Prepare attribution before publication and link to the licence when required.
- Keep a screenshot or licence receipt in your internal records because web pages can change.
Selecting a rights basis in MediaDrop
Select “licensed” only when the licence covers what you are about to do. Select “public domain” only after verification. If you hold the rights yourself, select ownership. A selection does not replace evidence and does not unlock an unapproved source.
What should attribution contain?
A useful credit normally includes the work title, creator, source URL, licence name, licence link, and a description of changes. Follow the source terms if they require additional information.