17 Four License Elements and the Icons

There are four different license elements symbolized by visual icons.

This symbol means Attribution or “BY.” All of the licenses include this condition.

• This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use.

CC BY includes the following elements:
BY – Credit must be given to the creator

This symbol means NonCommercial or “NC,” which means the work is only available to be used for noncommercial purposes.

• This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. 

It includes the following elements:
BY – Credit must be given to the creator
NC – Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted

This symbol means ShareAlike or “SA,” which means that adaptations based on this work must be licensed under the same license. Two of the CC licenses include this condition. 

• This license allows reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms.

CC BY-SA includes the following elements:
BY – Credit must be given to the creator
SA – Adaptations must be shared under the same terms

This symbol means NoDerivatives or “ND,” which means reusers cannot share adaptations of the work. Two of the CC licenses include this restriction. 

• This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use. 

CC BY-ND includes the following elements:
BY – Credit must be given to the creator
ND – No derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted

“Anatomy of a CC License/ Sub Unit 3 by Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

About CC Licenses Creative Commons CC BY 4.0