Public Domain and CC0: What You Can Use Freely
Public domain works are not protected by copyright and can be used freely without permission. Creative Commons also provides a tool called CC0, which allows creators to dedicate their work to the public domain.
What Is the Public Domain?
The public domain includes works that:
- Are no longer protected by copyright
- Were never eligible for copyright protection
- Have been intentionally released by their creators
Public domain works can be used, shared, and adapted without restriction.
What Is CC0?
CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) is a tool that allows creators to waive their copyright and place their work into the public domain.
- No attribution required
- No restrictions on use
- Can be used for any purpose
Public Domain vs. CC0
- Public Domain: Works not protected by copyright or expired; free to use without permission
- CC0: Creator has waived rights and dedicated the work to the public domain
- Key Difference: Public domain may occur naturally; CC0 is an intentional release by the creator
- Reuse: Both allow reuse, modification, and sharing without restriction
Examples in Teaching
- Using historical texts or documents
- Incorporating public domain images into course materials
- Reusing datasets or government publications
- Adapting CC0-licensed content for assignments
Important Considerations
- Attribution is not required, but often recommended
- Verify that a work is truly in the public domain
- Some works may have restrictions in certain countries
- Always check the source of the material
Copyright Exceptions and Limitations
In addition to openly licensed and public domain materials, some uses of copyrighted works are allowed without permission under exceptions and limitations such as fair use. These provisions vary by country and context, but in the United States, fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as teaching, scholarship, commentary, and research.
While Creative Commons licenses provide clear permissions in advance, exceptions and limitations may still apply even when a work is not openly licensed. Educators should evaluate whether their use qualifies under fair use or other applicable provisions before using copyrighted materials.
Where to Find Public Domain & CC0 Works
- Openverse
- Wikimedia Commons
- Library of Congress
- Government websites (.gov)
“Creative Commons License Materials” by Creative Commons is licensed under CC BY 4.0 and available from CreativeCommons.org .
Text and instructional content on this page are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license .
Images and third-party materials are used under license and may not be reused without
permission.
