What does CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 allow?
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 lets you share unaltered copies of a work for non-commercial purposes only, provided you give attribution. It is the most restrictive of the six Creative Commons 4.0 licenses because it removes the permissions to make adaptations and to use the work commercially. Here is exactly what that means in practice.
The Exact License Condition
Three restrictions stack on top of the baseline attribution requirement. The NonCommercial term means you may not use the work for any activity primarily intended for or directed toward commercial advantage or monetary compensation. The NoDerivatives term means you may not share any adapted material based on the work. The license grants permission only for unadapted, verbatim copies shared for non-commercial purposes, with attribution.
That combination makes it the most restrictive of the six Creative Commons 4.0 licenses. Every other license gives you at least one additional freedom: CC BY grants both commercial use and adaptation rights, CC BY-SA adds ShareAlike, CC BY-ND permits commercial use without adaptation, and even the other NonCommercial licenses (CC BY-NC and CC BY-NC-SA) allow adaptation. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 removes both commercial use and adaptation. You get one right: share unchanged copies non-commercially.
Permissions at a Glance
The table below summarises what you may and may not do under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. ND blocks all sharing of modified versions, even for non-commercial purposes. Before you share anything, confirm the exact license on the original source page and record the attribution details.
| Activity | Allowed | Not Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Share unchanged copies for non-commercial purposes | Yes | — |
| Give attribution to the creator | Required | — |
| Link or refer to the exact license | Required | — |
| Indicate any modifications if you share an adaptation | — | Blocked by ND |
| Synchronise music with moving images | — | Blocked by ND (expressly Adapted Material) |
| Translate the work | — | Blocked by ND (normally an adaptation) |
| Use the work for commercial advantage or monetary compensation | — | Blocked by NC |
| Impose additional legal terms or DRM that restrict others' rights | — | Conflicts with 4.0 |
One Allowed and One Disallowed Use
An Allowed Share
You find a photograph under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Save the full-resolution copy. Embed it on your personal blog post about the topic. Credit the creator with their name, a link to the original source, and a note that the license is CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Do not crop, edit, or change the image. Do not run advertisements on that blog page. This is a non-commercial share of an unadapted copy.
A Disallowed Rework
Take that same photograph, crop it to focus on a detail, add your own text overlay, and post the result on a social media account that generates ad revenue. Two restrictions are violated. Cropping may create an adaptation under applicable copyright law, and the ad revenue makes the use commercial. The ND term blocks sharing the cropped version. The NC term blocks the commercial context. The license terminates automatically if you do not cure the breach within 30 days after discovering it, and cure does not erase potential liability for the period of violation.
Common Questions
Can I embed a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 image in a blog post that has Google AdSense?
No. Running advertisements on the same page is likely commercial use. The NonCommercial term prohibits use primarily intended for commercial advantage or monetary compensation, and ad revenue triggers that restriction. Remove the ads from that page, or seek separate permission from the licensor.
Does CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 allow me to download the work for personal use?
Yes. The license grants permission to reproduce copies for non-commercial purposes. Downloading a copy for your own offline reference is allowed. Sharing that copy with others must still comply with the NC and ND terms.
If I crop a photo under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 but never share the cropped version, is that allowed?
The license does not address private, unshared adaptations. The ND term only blocks sharing Adapted Material. Cropping for your own use is not a violation, but the moment you share the cropped version publicly, you need to determine whether the crop creates an adaptation under applicable copyright law. The 4.0 legal code does not give a universal answer.
Can I use CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 material in a YouTube video if I do not monetise the video?
Sharing unmodified clips of the material for non-commercial purposes is allowed, provided you attribute correctly and link the exact license. However, if the video synchronises music with moving images, that is expressly Adapted Material under 4.0 and is blocked by ND. Check each component's license separately, and verify YouTube's platform terms do not impose additional restrictions.
What happens if I accidentally violate the NonCommercial term?
Under 4.0, the license terminates automatically on breach. It is automatically reinstated from the date you cure the violation, provided you do so within 30 days after discovering it. Cure does not erase possible liability for the period of violation. The licensor may also expressly reinstate the license. For older versions (pre-4.0), the termination rules differ and lack the automatic 30-day cure mechanism.
Does CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 apply to software code?
No. Creative Commons does not recommend any of its licenses for software code. Use a recognised free/open-source software license suited to source code, patents, and distribution. Documentation, artwork, and other non-code assets may carry a separate CC license if clearly marked as such.
Can the creator change the license after I have downloaded the work?
No. The licensor may stop distributing the work or offer it under other terms to new recipients, but cannot withdraw the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license from people who already received a copy while complying with its terms. Your rights under the license you received are irrevocable.