You Can Has Remix: Creative Commons

So, you want to make the next viral video but you don't really have a camera besides the one on your cell phone. Or maybe you want music, but you're sick of using public old public domain stuff. Never fear, Creative Commons is here!

(Image by Flickr user Jayel Aheram. Some Rights Reserved)

The concept is simple. Authors, musicians, film makers, really anyone who creates content of any kind retain their "copyright" on their work, but they allow it to be used by other people to create remixes, mash-ups, or just use it. (like I did with the picture in this post!) They get to decide.

What can you allow or disallow on works you create?

1. Attribution - Anyone using your work has to give YOU credit.
2. Share-Alike - Keep the circle of life spinning. Anyone who creates a work based on your has to share it under the same rules you did.
3. Non-Commercial - Anyone using your work can't use it to profit.
4. No Derivatives - Anyone can make copies and share your work, but they cannot modify it in any way.

Content becomes free! How does this help you in making your video? Well, you could go to one of the many places offering stock video under a Creative Commons license and use those as your video source. Then check out the creative commons page for audio sources. If you need a single image? Go to Flickr and look at their HUGE Creative Commons pool. Now you've got lots and lots of places to get footage.

Be sure to follow the rules they lay down, they are giving it to you for free, and share your own content for everyone else.

Think Creative Commons is just for kids or the small time? Check out this awesome animation released under a Creative Commons Attribution license from the Blender Foundation.



Big Buck Bunny from Blender Foundation on Vimeo.