How to Optimally Utilize a Creative Commons License

How to Use Creative Commons Copyright Licenses [Complete Guide]

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

You might have noticed that, when you post a video, you get to choose how you want to copyright it: standard license, or creative commons. You’ve also probably noticed that when you looking for royalty-free music or stock footage a lot of it is licensed through creative commons.

So, what exactly are creative commons ?

To hold the copyright to a creative work means that you own it, and anybody who wants to use your work for anything (i.e. uses a song you composed in their YouTube video) has to do so on your terms. When you license your work through creative commons you do not give up your rights to your creative work (a common misconception).

When you use a creative commons license you are outlining the terms under which other creators are allowed to use your creations in their projects for free if they credit you for your work.

If you do not want anyone using your work for free in any context, you stick to traditional copyrighting.

But if you’ve created a piece of music, a photograph, or a clip that you wouldn’t mind other people using, potentially as a way to get your name out there, you might want to consider creative commons.

There are 6 different creative commons licenses. Which is right for you will depend on your answers to these two questions:

Are you okay with a creator making money off of something they create using your work?

Are you okay with a creator producing a derivative of your work?

To say ‘no derivatives’ is to say ‘I’m okay with people using it, so long as they don’t change it’. One example of a derivative is a techno remix of a song. If you are alright with other creators making derivatives of your work, you may also want to require them to ‘ShareAlike’. ShareAlike means that the creator of that techno remix of your song has to use the same creative commons license you used for your original to distribute the remix.

An example of a derivative someone might make of a YouTube video would be auto-tuning it to make a song or cutting up your video to make one that’s just ‘the funny parts’.

Here are the 6 creative commons licenses, and a chart you can use as a quick reference tool.

Attribution – CC BY

If you’re using music or other media with this license, all you need to do is credit the artist.

If you license your video this way, people can do whatever they like with any element of it (video or sound) so long as they credit you. I.e. if someone wanted to mute your clips and use you as stock footage in a bigger project, they could.

Attribution-ShareAlike – CC BY-SA

If you use music, photos, or any other media licensed this way, then you must both credit the artist and license your video this same way. Meaning, you can’t use YouTube’s standard license and must instead allow for others to use your work the way you are using the licensed media.

If you apply this license to your video, you’re saying you don’t mind people using all or portions of your video for their project so long as they allow others to use their work in the same way.

Attribution-NoDerivs – CC BY-ND

This one can get tricky.

Essentially, you can use media licensed this way so long as you don’t alter it or create a different version. For example, you can’t take a song licensed this way and use it in a mashup with another song. That part is clear. Where it gets tricky is when you want to use a song in your video.

Under normal copyright rules, using a royalty-free song in the background of your video would not count as creating a derivative. The definition of derivative according to creative commons is a bit broader and includes ‘syncing’. This means you can’t take an ‘Attribution-NoDerivs’ song and create any kind of music video for it.

For example, you can’t edit clips of yourself snowboarding so that they’re in sync with a song that has this license.

Whether or not you can play the song in the background of your vlog while you are speaking can be a bit of a grey area. In theory, it shouldn’t be a problem, but if you’re accessing the music through a social site like SoundCloud then it might be best to ask the artist first.

There’s no reason to license your YouTube videos this way. If people cannot alter your video, all that’s left is for them to repost it. Even though they’d also be crediting you, they’d still essentially be stealing views and ad revenue from your original video.

Attribution-NonCommercial – CC BY-NC

If you’re using stock footage, music, or stock photos licensed this way then you should still be able to monetize your video. YouTube monetization and commercial use are different things. However, there is a lot of confusion about this issue, and chances are the rights holder intends for this license to mean ‘no monetization’.

What you definitely could not do with a NonCommercial license is to use the song/other media in an actual commercial for a product, including product placement that a brand is paying you for.

If you license your video this way, people can use it in whatever way they like so long as they credit you and don’t try to make money off of it. Once again, that doesn’t mean they can’t use it in a YouTube video which they monetize because, technically, they’d be making money off of the ad that ran ahead of the video and not the video itself.

The thing to be careful of with this license is that it’s not ‘ShareAlike’. So, if you license your video this way somebody could use your clips as stock footage and then provide them - as part of their project – for free to a third person to use in a project they were making money off of.

Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike – CC BY-NC-SA

Music and other media with an ‘Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike’ license can be used in and altered for your videos, so long as you aren’t making money off those videos. You must also use this same license for the video you create using elements licensed this way.

If you license your video this way, people can use it or a portion of it in their project if they credit you. They must also use this same license for their video if they do. This protects you from the situation where a third person who never licensed your original content is making money off of it.

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs – CC BY-NC-ND

There aren’t many situations where you would be using media licensed this way in your YouTube videos. You can’t alter it, sync videos to it, or make money from any video that uses it.

You also probably shouldn’t use this license for your videos. ‘NoDerivs’ means there are not many ways people could use your content, except to repost full videos and steal your views.

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Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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Unveiling Solutions to YouTube Short Pitfalls

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YouTube streaming service has kept online users glued to their screens. You can access and share videos and music from any part of the world. Users resolve to YouTube for personal and business affairs. You can use it for a tutorial, promotional event, or just share the fun with other users. Several avenues are available for users to post and share their minds worldwide. So far, it has rolled out a short-form video service, Shorts, which was initially inspired by TikTok.

With Shorts, you can shoot videos, edit, and upload them for your audience. However, YouTube shorts not showing is a common issue for those wishing to share their videos in regular channel feed. You might be wondering how to solve such issues when pushed to the wall. Check out possible solutions in the next section. But first, let’s find out what really are YouTube Shorts.

What is YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts is an app that you can use to shoot and share short-form videos using your mobile phone. Furthermore, you can record and edit your videos as well as music overlays and video segmenting abilities. Viewers will access the videos for 60 seconds or less but will remain on your channel, unlike Stories that disappear after a short while. It was first released in September 2020, having started in the US and India. It has so far encroached many countries and is currently accessed by 6 billion users in over 100 countries.

Where can I find YouTube Shorts?

Many users are curious about how to make full use of YouTube Shorts. You can get the Short at the bottom of the YouTube app on either the homepage or on their channel page.

Is YouTube Shorts available on Google Play or App Store?

No. Unlike other streaming apps, you can’t find YouTube app on Google Play or App Store as it is not a standalone service. YouTube Shorts are found within the service’s main mobile app. It is, therefore, accessible from the YouTube app on your computer or phone at the bottom of the screen.

How to access YouTube Shorts on YouTube app

First, go to the YouTube app at the bottom of the screen to find the “Shorts” button.
You’ll then see a selection of thumbnails that harbors popular Shorts.
Choose any video then click on it to bring you into the vertical video player.
You can then watch the clip and like or dislike the video as it plays. Just use the “thumbs up” or “down” icon. Likewise, you can share and subscribe to the “Short creator’s” channel.

How to create YouTube Shorts

Do you wish to create YouTube Shorts but you don’t know how to? Here’s the kicker!

Step 1. You first need to install the YouTube app on your device then sign in to your account.

Step 2. Now, tap on the “Create” button. The icon is a “+” symbol in the bottom center of the screen.

Step 3. A pop-up window will open. Tap the “Create a Short” tab. If prompted, allow YouTube to use your phone’s camera and microphone.

Step 4. You’ll then land on the “YouTube Shorts” recording page.

Step 5. Set the length to 60 seconds and bellow. You have the option to slow down or speed up the recording by tapping the “Speed” icon on the right.

Step 6. Likewise, set a time for the camera to start recording automatically. Check below the “Speed” for the “Timer” for setting.

Step 7. Go ahead to edit your Short before posting. You can use “Filters” to apply visual effects.

Step 8. When your camera is set, hit the “Record” button. You can stop the recording by tapping on the Record button, then resume as you wish.

Step 9. Tap on the “Checkmark” when you are done recording. You can add some music and text as well. Then tap on the “Next” button to finish the recording.

Step 10. Then add a title and adjust “Sharing” settings. Also, add the “#shorts” to the title to make it promotional together with other Shorts videos.

Step 11. Finally, tap the “Upload” tab to add your “Shorts” to YouTube.

Here are the solutions for YouTube Common Issues

Since YouTube Shorts is still in the “Beta” mode, users are likely to experience issues while using it. Below are some fixes for YouTube shorts common issues like YouTube Shorts not showing up, unable to post video to YouTube Shorts and etc.

Solution 1. Update YouTube app

Remember apps are ever on the upgrade mode. You are likely to face some connection issues if you are operating on an older version. Here’s is how to update the YouTube app on your Android or iPhone device.

On Android device

Launch Google Play Store.
Next, tap on the “three diagonal lines” at the top section of your screen.
Then select the “My Apps & Games” option.
Search for YouTube app and tap on the “Update” button.

On iOS device

Open the “App Store”
Tap on your “Profile” icon.
Then tap on the “Update” tab to fix the issue.

On your computer

Search for YouTube streaming app from the Google Play Store.
Here, you’ll see an update button in case your app needs an update.
Next, click on the “Update” button and wait for the update to complete.
Launch YouTube once more and see whether the YouTube Shorts not showing issue is resolved.

Solution 2. Clear Cache

A corrupt system may also cause issues with the normal operation of your application.

Go to the “Settings” button on your phone.
Then go to the “Apps” section and tap on “All Apps”
Select the “YouTube” app from the list.
Next, go to the “App Settings” and click on the “Storage” section.
Tap on the “Clear cache and data” option.
Finally, relaunch the YouTube app and check whether the issue is resolved.

Solution 3. Check if Shorts is available in your country

Remember that “Shorts” isn’t available in all the countries yet. So, you can confirm whether it is already in your country. If not, you can bypass GEO restrictions by using free VPNs.

First, download and install a VPN app.
Next, select the USA or India server location to fake a GPS location.
Then clear the cache from the YouTube app and click it open.
You should now find the option to view and even upload Shorts from your device.

Solution 4. Ensure your video is set as YouTube Shorts

Your video should be set as YouTube Shorts before posting.

Identify the video that you wish to post.
Add the “#shorts” in your title and description.
See that each video is up to 60 seconds only.
Post the video and see whether the issue isn’t reoccurring.

Conclusion