Attributing copyrights correctly is not only a legal requirement but also a respectful acknowledgement of a creator's work. Whether you're using original content or materials under open licenses like Creative Commons, understanding how to properly credit the source is essential for legal compliance and ethical use. This article provides a comprehensive guide to copyright notices and Creative Commons attributions.
Number 1: Basic Copyright Notice
A copyright notice informs users that a work is protected by copyright and identifies the rightful owner. While not legally required in many jurisdictions, it serves as a clear and helpful reminder to others about the ownership of the content.
Key Elements of a Copyright Notice
-
Copyright Symbol:
The most commonly used symbol is ©. Alternatively, the word “Copyright” may be used if the symbol is not available. -
Name of the Copyright Owner:
This can be an individual, a company, or an organization that holds the copyright to the work. -
Year of First Publication:
This indicates when the work was first made publicly available. If the work is regularly updated (such as a website or publication), a range of years (e.g., 2015–2025) can be used. -
Optional Statement of Rights:
A phrase such as “All Rights Reserved” can be included to affirm that all legal rights in the work are retained by the owner. Alternatively, you may include statements like “Some Rights Reserved” or specify permissions granted.
Example Below
© Jane Doe, 2025. All Rights Reserved.
Number 2: Attribution for Creative Commons Licenses
TASL: The Four Key Elements of Creative Commons Attribution
According to Creative Commons, the attribution should include the following elements, often remembered using the acronym TASL:
-
Title:
The name of the work, if provided by the creator. -
Author:
The name of the creator or copyright holder. -
Source:
A link or reference to where the work is hosted or published. -
License:
The full name of the Creative Commons license, ideally with a hyperlink to the license text.
Common Creative Commons Licenses:
-
CC BY: Attribution required
-
CC BY-SA: Attribution + ShareAlike
-
CC BY-ND: Attribution + NoDerivatives
-
CC BY-NC: Attribution + NonCommercial
-
CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution + NonCommercial + ShareAlike
-
CC BY-NC-ND: Attribution + NonCommercial + NoDerivatives
Example Attribution:
"Sunset Over Mountains" by John Smith is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Available at: www.example.com/sunset-photo
Number 3: Best Practices for Attribution
Be Clear and Concise:
Place attributions near the work used, such as below an image, at the end of a video, or in footnotes for written content.-
Preserve License Links:
Always include hyperlinks to the original work and license, especially in digital formats. -
Don’t Alter Credit Information:
Keep the original attribution intact unless modifications are explicitly allowed under the license. -
Note Modifications:
If you’ve adapted or edited the original work, clearly indicate that the work has been changed.
Modified Work Example:
Adapted from "Cityscape" by Jane Doe, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Original available at www.example.com/cityscape
Professional & Ethical Standards
Properly attributing copyrighted and Creative Commons content is not just a legal obligation—it’s a professional and ethical standard that promotes creativity, collaboration, and respect for intellectual property. Whether you’re publishing online, in print, or in multimedia formats, following attribution guidelines ensures transparency and compliance.
By including essential elements such as the copyright symbol, owner name, publication year, and license details, you contribute to a responsible digital ecosystem that values and protects creators' rights.
-
For Copyright:
© [Name of Copyright Owner], [Year]. [Optional: All Rights Reserved] -
For Creative Commons:
"[Title]" by [Author] is licensed under [License Name]. Available at: [URL]
This article is presented under the umbrella of MAFHH An Institution, Management Intelligence, Business Accounting & Finance Resources, Professional Cyber Security Resources, PM ACCA, Climate-Resilience, Organic Life, Power of Words, Our Children and Ya Aba Abdillahil Hussain Alhai Salam.
Thank you for your time with us.
For more details, contact us.
faisalfinancials@gmail.com
faisalfinancials@outlook.com
Syed Faisal Abbas Tirmize
Founder, CEO, Management Consultant & Sustainability Mentor.
MAFHH An Institution
Our Social Media Links Below:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/syed-faisal-abbas-tirmize-319806214/
https://patiencewisdomsuccess.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/mafhhaninstitution
https://mafhhaninstitution.blogspot.com/


.png)
.jpg)




.jpg)
.jpg)







.jpeg)





