How does a Creative Commons licence operate?
A Creative Commons licence is based on copyright. So they apply to all works that are protected by copyright law. The kinds of works that are protected by copyright law are books, websites, blogs, photographs, films, videos, songs and other audio & visual recordings, for example. Creative Commons licences give you the ability to dictate how others may exercise your copyright rights; such as the right of others to copy your work, make derivative works or adaptations of your work, to distribute your work and/or make money from your work. They do not give you the ability to restrict anything that is otherwise permitted by exceptions or limitations to copyright – including, importantly, fair use or fair dealing, nor do they give you the ability to control anything that is not protected by copyright law, such as facts and ideas. Creative Commons licences attach to the work and authorize everyone who comes in contact with the work to use it consistent with the licence. This means that if Bob
