How do I license a photo, illustration or design?
Attach a Creative Commons 4.0 International license notice that names the exact version, links to its deed, and identifies the creator. You cannot apply the license to material you do not own or control. That is the decisive condition. Check every third-party element in your work before you write the notice. Below is the complete marking workflow, with copyable notice formats and explicit treatment of third-party material.
How Do I License a Photo, Illustration or Design? The Marking Workflow
Only the copyright holder, or someone with express authority, may apply a CC license. Confirm joint authors, employment ownership, commissioned-work terms, performer rights, samples and third-party inclusions first. A license notice must identify the work and creator, name and link the exact license and version, link the source where useful, and clearly exclude material not covered. No registration with Creative Commons is required. The official chooser helps create a notice but does not validate ownership.
Visible Credit Notice You Can Copy
Attach the notice directly on or near the image. For a photo uploaded to a portfolio, place it in the caption field. For an illustration in a PDF, add a credits page. Under 4.0 a reuser must retain, when supplied by the licensor: identification of the creator and designated attribution parties, a copyright notice, a notice referring to the license, a warranty disclaimer, and a URI or hyperlink to the work where reasonably practicable. Use this format: "Work Title by Creator Name. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. the official CC BY 4.0 deed. © 2025 Creator Name." Replace with your specific details. The reuser must link or refer to the license and indicate modifications, retaining earlier modification notices.
Metadata Inside Source Files
Embed the same information in the file's metadata fields: IPTC Creator, Copyright Notice, and Copyright Info URL. Do not rely on this alone; the visible notice is what a reuser sees first. The metadata travels with the file on download and supports automated attribution tools. For a design file, include the license in a text layer or a README text file inside the archive. The license applies only where copyright or similar rights require permission. Exceptions such as fair use or fair dealing operate separately.
Exact License Condition: Which 4.0 License to Choose
The current suite contains six 4.0 International licenses. All require attribution. Versions before 4.0 have different termination language and do not contain the automatic 30-day cure mechanism. Use version 4.0 for a new license unless a specific, informed reason requires an older version or port. A license already attached to someone else's work cannot be unilaterally upgraded by a reuser.
The Six Licences
- CC BY 4.0: sharing and adaptations, including commercial use; attribution.
- CC BY-SA 4.0: the above; shared adaptations must use BY-SA 4.0 or a license Creative Commons has formally named as compatible.
- CC BY-ND 4.0: sharing, including commercial sharing; adapted material may be made for private use but may not be shared under the license.
- CC BY-NC 4.0: sharing and adaptations only for NonCommercial purposes.
- CC BY-NC-SA 4.0: NonCommercial plus ShareAlike for shared adaptations.
- CC BY-NC-ND 4.0: NonCommercial sharing of unadapted material only.
| Condition | What It Permits | What It Blocks |
|---|---|---|
| BY (Attribution) | Share, adapt, commercial use | None, but attribution is mandatory |
| BY-SA (ShareAlike) | Share, adapt, commercial use | Shared adaptations must use BY-SA 4.0 or a compatible license |
| BY-ND (NoDerivatives) | Share unchanged, commercial sharing | Sharing adapted material is not permitted; translation is normally an adaptation |
| BY-NC (NonCommercial) | Share and adapt for noncommercial purposes | Commercial advantage or monetary compensation is not primarily intended |
| BY-NC-SA | Share and adapt for noncommercial purposes | NonCommercial share-alike for shared adaptations |
| BY-NC-ND | Share unchanged for noncommercial purposes | Sharing adapted material is not permitted; commercial use is blocked |
Decisive Exception: Third Party Material and Ownership
You cannot apply a CC license to material you do not own or control. Confirm joint authors, employment ownership, commissioned-work terms, performer rights, samples and third-party inclusions first. Do not use a CC license for software code. Use a recognised free/open-source software license suited to source code, patents and distribution. Documentation, art and other non-code assets may carry separate CC licenses if they are marked clearly. Do not apply a CC license to a trademark as though it granted trademark permission, to material the licensor does not control, or to a work meant to remain confidential.
Third Party Inclusions
If your photo contains a recognisable brand logo, a piece of copyrighted artwork, or a sample of someone else's music, that element is not covered by your CC license unless you have permission from the third-party rights holder. The license notice must clearly exclude material not covered. For example: 'This work is licensed under CC BY 4.0 except where noted. The [brand logo] is not covered by this license.' Preserve the source page, license notice, dates, files, communications and the challenged use. Correct an attribution or stop a noncompliant use promptly. A licensor should identify the work, exact condition and requested cure before escalating.
Common Questions
What are the six Creative Commons 4.0 licenses?
The six 4.0 International licenses are: CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-ND, CC BY-NC, CC BY-NC-SA, and CC BY-NC-ND. All require attribution.
Can I license a photo I found on social media?
No. Only the copyright holder or someone with express authority may apply a CC license. If you did not create the photo and do not have written permission, you cannot license it.
What does the ND condition mean for sharing?
Sharing Adapted Material is not permitted under an ND license. Translation is normally an adaptation. Synchronising music with a moving image is expressly Adapted Material under 4.0.
Do I need to register my work with Creative Commons?
No. No registration with Creative Commons is required. Applying a CC license is a one-way act by the copyright holder. The official chooser helps create a notice but does not validate ownership.