4.4 | REMIXING CC-LICENSED WORKS
Combining and adapting CC-licensed works is where things can get a little tricky. This section will give you the tools you need.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Describe the basics of what it means to create an adaptation
- Explain the scope of the ShareAlike clause
- Explain the scope of the NoDerivatives clause
- Identify what license compatibility means and how to determine whether licenses are compatible
THE BIG QUESTION: WHY IT MATTERS
The great promise of Creative Commons licensing is that it increases the pool of content from which we can draw to create new works. But to take advantage of this potential, you have to understand when and how you can incorporate and adapt CC-licensed works. This requires careful attention to the particular CC licenses that apply, as well as a working understanding of the legal concept of adaptations as a matter of copyright.
PERSONAL REFLECTION: WHY IT MATTERS TO YOU
Have you ever wondered how to use a CC-licensed work created by someone else in something you are creating? Have you ever come across a CC-licensed work you wanted to reuse, but were unsure about whether doing so would require you to apply a ShareAlike license to what you created?
Acquiring Essential Knowledge
Copying a CC-licensed work and sharing it is pretty simple. Just make sure to provide attribution and refrain from using the work for commercial purposes if it is licensed with one of the NonCommercial licenses.
But what if you are changing a CC-licensed work or incorporating it into a new work? First, remember that if your use of someone else’s CC-licensed work falls under an exception or limitation to copyright (like fair use or fair dealing), then you have no obligations under the CC license. But if that is not the case, then you need to rely on the CC license for permission to adapt the work. The threshold question then becomes, is what you are doing creating an adaptation?
