How to Embed CC Licences into Resources

Embedding a CC licence into a resource will always be a customised solution depending upon the file format and the authoring tool you are using to produce your resource. The following provides basic information about how you might embed a CC licence into a resource.

For Websites and Web Pages:

Go to the Creative Commons licence chooser.

Choose the specific CC licence that you require and the appropriate jurisdiction, and in particular whether you wish to choose a ported licence (jurisdiction-specific licence) or an unported licence (without a specified jurisdiction).

  • Make sure that your resource contains information about authorship and contact details (such as an email address).
  • Select the licence you have chosen.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page and click “Use this licence for your own work”.
  • Embed the HTML code that is given into your own website and/or web pages that host your resource(s).

For Blogs:

For MS Office documents (Excel, Word, PowerPoint):

  • Download the plug-in from the Microsoft Research page for the Creative Commons add-in.
  • Click on the “Creative Commons” link in FILE.
  • Choose the specific CC licence that you require and appropriate jurisdiction, and in particular whether you wish to choose a ported licence (jurisdiction-specific licence) or unported licence (without a specified jurisdiction).
  • Make sure that your resource contains information about authorship and contact details (such as an email address).

For Podcasts and other audio/visual resources:

  • Go to the Creative Commons licence chooser.
  • Choose the specific CC licence that you require and appropriate jurisdiction, and in particular whether you wish to choose a ported licence (jurisdiction-specific licence) or unported licence (without a specified jurisdiction).
  • Make sure that your resource contains information about authorship and contact details (such as an email address).
  • Follow the instructions given on the Creative Commons embedded metadata guide.
  • You can also put the CC licence terms into any text descriptions if you are using Flickr, YouTube etc. Further information about embedding CC licences into photostreams uploaded to Flickr can be found on the Flickr Creative Commons page.

For RSS Feeds and ATOM:

  • Go to the Creative Commons licence chooser.
  • Choose the specific CC licence that you require and appropriate jurisdiction and in particular whether you wish to choose a ported licence (jurisdiction-specific licence) or unported licence (without a specified jurisdiction).
  • Make sure that your resource contains information about authorship and contact details (such as an email address).
  • Follow the instructions given on the Creative Commons syndication guide.

(adapted from Korn 2010)