What Combination of Licences Exist?

The 6 licence options require that appropriate credit is given to the authors by naming them as creators and linking them to the applicable licence. The licences are based on 4 elements, which can be combined in different Creative Commons licences. These elements are:

• BY – Attribution → Credit must be given to the creator
• SA – Share Alike → Adaptations must be shared under the same terms
• NC – Noncommercial → Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted
• ND – No derivatives → No derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted

Each element is visualised by a specific icon, allowing the composition to be represented clearly. This enables readers to quickly and easily identify the permissions granted for use. CC0 is a special case, as under German jurisdiction it is not possible to waive one’s moral rights as creator. However, the CC0 label can be understood as a waiver to take legal action against persons who freely re-use the work without attributing the creators.
Creative commons licences are part of many open access policies. The licence option that is most suitable for scholarly re-use is the CC BY, which allows the broadest possible re-use and guarantees that the work’s creator receives credit.