Creative Commons Licenses: Hidden Dangers for Content Creators

Last updated: 13 June 2025

Every creative work has automatic Copyright protection from the moment it is actually ‘created’. Nobody can use, share, copy or alter the work without the creator’s express permission.

The one exception is ‘fair use’ – where a portion of the work may be quoted, for example, when being critiqued, commented on or parodied.

But what if you want to encourage people to share your work and not put them off by having them ask permission? This is where the Creative Commons Licence comes in.

What is a Creative Commons Licence?

A Creative Commons Licence is a licence you give to the general public allowing them to use, share or modify a piece of your work without needing your permission first. There are 4 types of licence you can choose from:

1. Attribution: People can use your work provided they give you credit.
2. Non-Commercial: People can use your work provided they do not make money from it.
3. No Derivative Works: People can use your work as long as they do not alter it.
4. Share Alike: People can alter your work but only if they distribute the derivative work under the same licence terms as your original work.

Options 3 and 4 are mutually exclusive, so there are 6 different combinations of the above licence types. You can use the Creative Commons website to ‘create’ your own licence then attach the appropriate icon or mark to your work online.

Remember, when you grant the general public a Creative Commons Licence to your piece of work, you do not lose your Copyright rights to that work. Rather, you are managing some of the licensing so that individuals don’t have to come to you for permission while at the same time retaining your copyright ownership.

The Advantages of Creative Commons Licences

Increases Visibility and Collaboration: Your work will be free and available online and people will be encouraged to share and publicise it or use it in the manner you have permitted and specified. All while giving you credit and attribution for your work.

Encourages Sharing and Innovation: Suppose the work is in the public interest, for example, a piece of open-source code, medical innovation or academic research. In that case, you are allowing it to be developed further and improved.

Retains Copyright Ownership: Your original Copyright is protected. You can easily set the conditions by which your work is shared, monetised and modified within the parameters of the Creative Commons licensing regime.

Ensures Proper Attribution: With a Creative Commons Licence, users must provide appropriate credit to you as the original creator. This attribution safeguards your reputation and helps establish a network of trust and respect within the creative community.

The Disadvantages of Creative Commons Licences

Irrevocable Licences: You cannot revoke a Creative Commons Licence once given. You can remove the Licence from the work and all subsequent uses will not be permitted. But the original uses of the work will still be allowed under the original Licence.

Free Usage of Your Work: With a Creative Commons Licence, you give up your specified rights to your works for free, at no cost to the users of your work. And if someone profits from your work (provided you have not given a Non-commercial licence), you can’t ask for compensation or a licence fee. Under, for example, a creative commons attribution licence, they can make money off your work.

Ambiguity with Derivative Works: The Copyright of derivative works can be ambiguous. If someone uses your work to develop a new work and their ‘updated’ work is substantially different, there is an argument that the initial Creative Commons Licence no longer applies. They can argue they now own the new work and the Copyright rights to it.

Creative Commons vs Copyright Licence

So Creative Commons Licences are great for fostering sharing and collaboration. They allow creators to give the public permission to use their work under certain conditions without the need for individual agreements or payments. This can increase the visibility and impact of a work.

However, it also means that the creator may not directly profit from the use of their work. Traditional copyright licenses are more restrictive, granting permission to use a work under specific conditions, often for a fee and usually for a limited period of time.

So think hard before attaching a Creative Commons Licence to your work. Don’t give valuable Copyright away for free. On the other hand, a Creative Commons Licence might be just what you need to spread the word and get your work shared.

About the Author: Vanessa Emilio

Vanessa Emilio (BA Hons, LLB, ACIS, AGIA) is the Founder and CEO of Legal123.com.au and Practice Director of Legal123 Pty Ltd. Vanessa is a qualified Australian lawyer with 20+ years experience in corporate, banking and trust law. Click for full bio of Vanessa Emilio or follow on LinkedIn.

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