Key Terms in Intellectual Property and Licensing

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Creative Commons

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A nonprofit organization that enables the sharing and use of creativity and knowledge through free legal tools.

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Public Domain

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Works whose exclusive intellectual property rights have expired, have been forfeited, or are inapplicable.

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Intellectual Property

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A category of property that includes intangible creations of the human intellect.

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Derivative Work

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A work based upon one or more preexisting works, such as a translation, musical arrangement, dramatization, fictionalization, or any other form in which a work may be recast, transformed, or adapted.

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Commercial Use

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Utilizing a product or creative work for commercial purposes, typically to generate profit.

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Attribution

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The act of crediting the original creator of a work when it is used or shared.

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Work for Hire

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A work created by an employee as part of their job, or some limited types of works where all parties agree in writing to the 'work for hire' designation.

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Fair Use

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A legal doctrine that permits limited use of copyrighted material without acquiring permission from the rights holders.

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Fair Dealing

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A legal doctrine similar to fair use, used in some jurisdictions, that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission.

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Stock Images

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Professional photographs of common places, landmarks, nature, events, or people that are bought and sold on a royalty-free basis and can be used and reused for commercial design purposes.