How do I give proper Creative Commons attribution?
You must include the title, author, source, and license of the work, plus a notice if you modified it. That is how you give proper Creative Commons attribution under the 4.0 terms. The exact condition is in Section 3 of the legal code: retain any copyright notice, license notice, and disclaimer supplied by the licensor, and provide a URI or hyperlink to the material where reasonably practicable. The decisive exception: if a copyright exception or limitation such as fair use authorises the use, the license conditions do not apply. Record every notice from the original source page before you reuse the work.
The TASL Mnemonic And What It Leaves Out
TASL stands for title, author, source, licence. It is a useful memory aid, not the complete legal requirement under version 4.0. The 4.0 legal code requires that you retain, when supplied by the licensor: identification of the creator and designated attribution parties, a copyright notice, a notice referring to the licence, a warranty disclaimer, and a URI or hyperlink to the material where reasonably practicable. TASL covers the title and source, but does not explicitly cover a warranty disclaimer, a copyright notice, or a modification notice. For 4.0, you must add an indication of changes and preserve any previously supplied notices. If the licensor did not supply a title, 4.0 does not separately require one, but including it is good practice and older versions may require it when supplied.
What TASL Actually Requires In Practice
Title And Author
Use the name of the work as the licensor identified it. If the licensor did not supply a title, you do not need to invent one. Doing so helps other reusers identify the work. For the author, use the name the licensor provided. Do not imply the author endorses your use.
Source And License
Provide a URI or hyperlink to the material where reasonably practicable. Use the original source page, not a repost or a thumbnail. Name and link to the exact license and version, for example CC BY 4.0. Link to the deed or legal code.
Supplied Notices And Modifications
If the licensor included a copyright notice or a warranty disclaimer, retain it. If you adapted the work, indicate that changes were made. Keep any earlier modification notices. The failure case: a reuser who copies a credit from a search results page without opening the original source risks missing a disclaimer or a version number that changes the permitted uses.
How To Format Your Attribution For Different Media
Web And Print
For a blog post or web page, place the attribution near the work, in a caption or a credits section. Link the title to the source URL and link the license name to the deed. "Photo by Jane Doe, 'Sunset on the Coast', CC BY 4.0" with each element linked works. For a print document, include the full URL of the source and the deed.
Video And Audio
For a video, put the attribution in the description or end credits. For an audio track, include it in the show notes or metadata. A consolidated credits page is reasonable if the mapping from each work to its credit is clear and remains accessible. The failure case: burying the attribution in a page footer far from the work, or omitting the license URL, makes it hard for the next reuser to comply.
When The License Condition Does Not Apply
Version 4.0 of the Creative Commons license applies only where copyright or similar rights require permission. Exceptions and limitations such as fair use or fair dealing operate separately. If an exception authorises the use, the license conditions, including attribution, do not apply to that use. The scope of fair use varies by jurisdiction. Do not assume a US fair use result applies worldwide. If your use is covered by a copyright exception, you are not bound by the license, but you are bound by applicable law outside copyright, such as privacy, publicity, trademark, or contract law.
Common Questions
Do I need to include the title if the creator did not provide one?
No. Version 4.0 does not separately require a title when the licensor did not supply one. Including it is useful practice and older versions may require it when supplied.
Can I put the attribution in a separate credits page instead of next to the work?
Yes. A consolidated credits page can be reasonable if the mapping from each work to its credit is clear and the credits remain readily accessible.
What if I modified the work? Do I need to say so?
Yes. Under 4.0 you must indicate that changes were made. Keep any earlier modification notices that were supplied with the original work.
Do I need to attribute if I use the work under fair use instead of the licence?
No. If a copyright exception authorises the use, the license conditions do not apply. However, other laws such as privacy or trademark may still require attribution or impose restrictions.
What happens if I fail to attribute correctly?
Under 4.0, the license terminates automatically on breach. Rights are automatically reinstated if the violation is cured within 30 days after discovery. Cure does not erase possible liability for the period of violation.