Skip to Main Content

Please Note: Froedtert Health has implemented a new security protocol which has resulted in the degradation of on-campus access to MCW Libraries' electronic resources. Users on the Froedtert network must sign in via OpenAthens when attempting to access electronic library resources (including UpToDate, VisualDx, etc.). MCW Libraries is aware of this change and is working to provide a permanent access solution. If you have MCW credentials, please sign in via MCW employees and students when prompted. If you are a Froedtert employee, click here to register for an OpenAthens account or view more information.

Creative Commons (CC) Licensing

Layers of a CC License

Legal Code

The base layer of terms and conditions that are legally enforceable in court.

Commons Deeds

These are "human-readable" terms that summarize the legal code.

Machine Readable Code

This is metadata attached to CC licensed works to make them more discoverable by websites and search engines.

Elements of a CC License

Attribution (BY): Must give the author credit.

NonCommercial (NC): Can not be used commercially.

No Derivatives (ND): Adaptations can not be shared.

ShareAlike (SA): Adaptations must be licensed under the same or compatible license.

License Types

CC BY: Use & adapt the work for any purpose if you give credit to the creator.

CC BY-SA: Use & adapt the work for any purpose if you give credit to the creator and adaptations are shared under the same terms.

CC BY-NC: Use & adapt the work for noncommercial purposes only as long as you give credit to the creator.

CC BY-NC-SA: Use & adapt the work for noncommercial purposes only, if you give credit to the creator, and adaptations are shared under the same terms.

CC BY-ND: Use the un-adapted work if you give credit to the creator.

CC BY-NC-ND: Use the un-adapted work for non-commercial purposes only if you give credit to the creator.

Public Domain Tools

CC0 Tool: Allows creators to dedicate their work in the public domain and waive all rights.

Public Domain Mark: A label used to mark works that are known to be in the Public Domain and free of copyright restriction.

*These are considered labels or tools and are not equivalent to licenses.

MCW Libraries
8701 Watertown Plank Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226
(414) 955-8300

Contact Us
Locations & Hours
Send Us Your Comments