Chapter 1: What is Creative Commons?

Creative Commons (CC) is a set of legal tools, a nonprofit organization, as well as a global network and a movement — all inspired by people’s willingness to share their creativity and knowledge, and enabled by a set of open copyright licenses.

Creative Commons began in response to an outdated global copyright legal system. The primary issue Creative Commons was trying to resolve was the restrictions of copyright law and the unlimited technological possibilities of the internet. The hope was to essentially be more inclusive and allow more creativity and innovation. CC licenses are built on copyright and are designed to give more options to creators who want to share. Over time, the role and value of Creative Commons has expanded. This chapter will introduce you to where CC came from and where it is headed.