Are Creative Commons licences irrevocable?
Yes, Creative Commons 4.0 licenses are irrevocable. The legal code grants worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive, irrevocable permission for the full term of the licensed copyright and similar rights. Once you apply a CC 4.0 license to your work and someone receives it while complying with the terms, you cannot later revoke that license for that recipient. One decisive exception exists, and the protection has a clear legal limit.
What the License Grant Actually Says
Under version 4.0, the license is irrevocable for the duration of the work's copyright. The licensor grants permission to the public in advance. A downstream recipient does not sublicense the original material; instead they receive an offer from the original licensor. That offer cannot be withdrawn once accepted by a compliant use.
Irrevocability is a condition of the license. It is not a promise that the work stays online.
Existing Grants Versus Later Removal
A licensor may stop distributing the work or offer it under other terms, including a paid license. Dual licensing is open to the creator. But withdrawing the work from your website does not undo the license for copies already in the hands of reusers who were complying. The irrevocable grant means the license survives your removal of the file.
The Decisive Exception: Breach and Termination
One way the irrevocable permission ends: breach. Under 4.0, rights terminate automatically when a condition is violated. The crucial difference from older versions is the automatic 30-day cure mechanism. If the violator discovers the breach and cures it within 30 days, the rights are automatically reinstated from the date of cure. Older license versions do not contain this mechanism.
Cure does not erase possible liability for the period of violation. A licensor may also expressly reinstate rights, but that is their choice.
| Situation | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recipient complies with license conditions. | License is irrevocable. Permission lasts for full copyright term. | CC 4.0 legal code, Section 2(a) |
| Licensor removes work from website but recipient already has a copy. | License remains in effect for that copy. | CC FAQ, 'Can I stop others from using my work?' |
| Recipient breaches a condition (e.g., fails attribution). | License terminates automatically. Cure within 30 days reinstates it. | CC 4.0 legal code, Section 6(e) |
| Violation is not cured within 30 days after discovery. | License remains terminated permanently for that recipient. | CC 4.0 legal code, Section 6(e) |
| Licensor dual licenses the work under different terms. | The public CC license remains valid for those who received it under CC. | CC licensing considerations, 'Dual licensing' |
Jurisdiction-Sensitive Limits on Irrevocability
The irrevocable grant is a contractual promise, but its effect depends on applicable law. The license operates on top of copyright and similar rights. If a jurisdiction does not enforce certain contractual clauses or if moral rights override the license terms, irrevocability may be limited. The CC 4.0 legal code addresses moral rights only to the limited extent stated; privacy, publicity, trademark and other laws remain independent. Understand that irrevocability applies to the license grant, not to all rights a jurisdiction may recognise beyond copyright.
What Irrevocability Does Not Cover
It does not guarantee the work will remain accessible online. It does not prevent the licensor from suing for infringement if the work was misattributed or used beyond the license scope. It does not apply to trademark or patent rights. The license only covers copyright and similar rights as defined. If a use is authorised by fair use or another exception, the license conditions do not apply to that use, but that is a separate legal question.
Common Questions
Can I change the license on a work I already released under CC?
You can change the license for future recipients, but you cannot revoke the permission from anyone who already received a copy under the earlier license while complying with its terms.
What happens if I delete the work from my site?
The license remains in effect for copies that others already have. Deleting the file only stops new downloads; existing compliant uses are still licensed.
Is there a time limit on irrevocability?
The license lasts for the term of the licensed copyright and similar rights. That is the life of the author plus 50 or 70 years, depending on jurisdiction.
Does breach by one user affect other users?
No. Termination applies only to the breaching recipient. Other users who comply continue to have valid, irrevocable permission.