Why Creative Commons
"the benefit an author derives from a growing commons is greater than the benefit that author could gain by trying to create or use an all rights reserved work"
The Main Points
Every creative work receives copyright protection automatically the moment you fix the work by putting pen to paper, hitting save, or pressing record. This protection reserves all rights to the work's creator. Nobody can use that work without express written permission except where there is legally determined fair use.
- There are four conditions that you can choose to apply to a Creative Commons license:
- Attribution: You can use the work but must give credit. This applies in all Creative Commons licenses.
- Noncommercial: You can use the work only if you don't make any money from it.
- No derivative works: You can use the work only without altering or transforming it beyond the provisions of fair use.
- Share alike: You can transform a work as long as you make the resulting work available on the same terms as the original work.
The Real Argument Here Is
Why you would want to give away your work at all, even if you do hold on to your rights.
Simple Explanation of CC
Here is a simple explanation of the Creative Commons