How do I attribute a Creative Commons image?
Open the image's original source page, not a repost or thumbnail, and copy the attribution exactly as the licensor provided it. Include the creator's name, the work's title (if supplied), a link to the source, and a link to the exact license deed. Under version 4.0 you must retain any attribution information the licensor supplied, link or refer to the license, indicate modifications, and preserve earlier modification notices. The decisive condition: if the image carries a NoDerivatives (ND) term, you may not share an adapted version. Format conversion alone does not count as an adaptation under 4.0.
What The License Requires
Every one of the six licenses in the 4.0 suite carries the Attribution (BY) condition. That condition demands you keep, when supplied: the creator's identification and any designated attribution parties, a copyright notice, a notice referring to the license, a warranty disclaimer, and a URI or hyperlink to the material where reasonably practicable. You must also link or refer to the exact license and indicate modifications, keeping earlier modification notices intact. If the licensor requests removal of attribution information, comply where reasonably practicable. Attribution must not imply endorsement.
What TASL Covers And What It Misses
TASL (title, author, source, license) is a useful attribution mnemonic. It is not the complete legal text of the 4.0 license. It helps you remember the four most common pieces, but the official terms also require an indication of changes and preservation of any supplied warranty disclaimer, copyright notice, and other notices. For a 4.0-licensed image, add a short change notice after TASL. A consolidated credits page works for many works if the mapping from work to credit is clear and the credits stay readily accessible. Academic citation and license attribution serve different purposes; do both when both apply.
The Failure Case: ND Images
If the image uses a NoDerivatives (ND) license, you may not share adapted material under that license. Translation is normally an adaptation under 4.0. Synchronising a still image with music or video is expressly Adapted Material. Whether cropping, excerpting, or editing creates an adaptation depends on applicable copyright law. Do not assume a universal boundary. Format-shifting alone, such as resizing for a website, does not create an adaptation. When reuse in a transformed work fails the ND condition, use the image unchanged or obtain separate permission from the creator.
How Do I Attribute A Creative Commons Image?
Work in two steps: capture the attribution information from the source, then apply it in a reasonable manner for your medium. First, record the creator, source URL, exact license and version, displayed notices, exclusions, and the date you checked. Preserve a screenshot when the use matters. Second, place the attribution where a viewer can associate it with the image. For a blog, put the credit directly beneath the image or in a caption. For a video, add a credit overlay lasting long enough to read. For a print publication, include the attribution in the caption or a credits page. The only universal rule: the attribution must be reasonable for the medium.
Short Caption Format
Place this directly under the image on a blog or social post: "Photo by Creator Name / CC BY 4.0". The name and license shorthand are the minimum visible text. The source URL and license link go in the image's HTML link attribute or a separate credits page.
Full Caption With Accessible Link Treatment
For a version that works with screen readers and meets good practice, use: "Photo by Creator Name. Title: 'Work Title' (Year). Source: example.com/image.jpg. License: CC BY 4.0. Changes: cropped from original." Encode the source URL and license URL in the caption's linked text. For example, "Source: example.com/image.jpg" linked to the image page, and "License: CC BY 4.0" linked to the deed at creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The TASL mnemonic plus a change notice covers what the 4.0 license requires.
| Planned Use | License Conditions To Check | Attribution Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Share unchanged on a personal blog | BY only | Creator, source, license link, change notice (none) if no changes |
| Use in a commercial website | BY + check NC if the image uses NonCommercial | Same as above; NC blocks uses primarily for commercial advantage |
| Create a meme by cropping and adding text | BY + ND if the image uses NoDerivatives. ND blocks sharing adapted material; cropping may or may not be an adaptation under local copyright law | Same as above; if adaptation is permitted, mark changes clearly |
| Combine multiple CC images in a video | BY + SA if any image uses ShareAlike. SA requires the adapter to apply BY-SA 4.0 or a compatible license to the adaptation | Same as above + adapter must license the new work under the SA condition; check the official compatibility chart |
| Use an image labelled CC0 | No license conditions; CC0 is a public-domain dedication, not a license | Credit is not legally required but recommended for attribution and research integrity |
Change Notices And Collections
Under version 4.0, you must indicate modifications to the image and preserve earlier modification notices. A change notice can be as brief as "cropped from original" or "colour-adjusted" in the caption. If you combine unchanged images in a collection, such as an album of travel photos on one page, each image retains its own license. The collection's overall license does not replace those individual licenses. Only your own original contribution to the collection is covered by your chosen license. For a collection, a consolidated credits page is reasonable if the mapping from each image to its credit is clear and the page remains readily accessible from the collection.
What To Do When The License Is Missing
If the image's source page does not show a license, you cannot assume it is CC-licensed. Creative Commons does not register works, verify ownership, or validate license notices. Do not rely on a third-party search engine's icon or a platform's badge. Open the original source and read the exact license. If the license information has been removed, contact the creator directly. Never use an image whose license status is unclear. The cost of a copyright claim far exceeds the time it takes to find a properly licensed alternative.
Common Questions
Do I need to include the license deed URL in the attribution?
Yes. The 4.0 legal code requires you to link or refer to the license. Use the exact deed URL for the version, for example creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. This helps downstream users verify the permissions.
Can I put the attribution on a separate credits page?
Yes, if the mapping from work to credit is clear and the credits are readily accessible. A link from the image to the credits page is good practice. The license only requires that the attribution is reasonable for the medium.
What if the creator did not supply a title or copyright notice?
Version 4.0 does not require you to supply missing information. Include only what the licensor provided. The TASL mnemonic is useful but the legal requirement only covers what was supplied. Do not guess or invent a title.
Does changing the image file format create an adaptation?
No. Under the 4.0 definition, reproduction in a different format alone does not create Adapted Material. This applies whether you convert a JPEG to PNG or resize an image for web use. Translation is normally an adaptation; music synchronisation is expressly one.