Creative Commons

Some owners do not want to deal with every request to use their work. They can publish a public licence: a permission statement that applies to everyone in advance, as long as the licence conditions are met. The work is still protected by copyright and the owner still owns it, but the licence tells people clearly what they are allowed to do with it. Anything the licence does not cover still needs the owner's separate permission.

Creative Commons is an example of a public licence. It is a set of standard licences rather than a single one, so a creator chooses the conditions. One licence might allow use only in non-commercial projects; another might allow changes to be made; another might require adapted versions to be shared in the same way. Because the conditions differ, you must check the exact licence before using a work.

For example, a board-game designer uploads printable paper tokens under a Creative Commons licence that lets anyone print and use them in their own games, but not sell them. A school games club prints a set for its Friday meetings, so it has met the condition and the permission applies. A shop prints the same tokens and sells them, so its use goes beyond the permission given and the shop cannot rely on that licence.

The important idea is that permission is offered to everyone, but it is conditional. If you fail to meet a condition, the public licence does not give you permission, and you would need to ask the owner separately.