Building tools for shared knowledge - Creative Commons

Celebrate 25 Years of Creative Commons! As we mark a quarter-century of empowering creators and keeping knowledge free, your support helps us build the next 25 years of the global commons. Help us kick off our end-of-year giving campaign early! Donate today!
"Nine Inch Nails Corona Capital Mexico" by PraxMx, 2018, is marked CC0 1.0.
Creative Commons is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to defending and nurturing a commons of shared knowledge and culture that powers human creativity, equity, and innovation.
The CC licenses and public domain tools give everyone, from individuals to large institutions, a standardized way to grant the public permission to use their work under copyright law.
Used by Wikipedia, Flickr, The Met, Khan Academy, and millions more globally!
Top left: Photo by 1ffischer, here edited and cropped, is in the public domain. Bottom left: "Chakrasamvara with His Consort Vajravarahi," here cropped, is in the public domain. Top right: "Swinging Towards the Stars and the Sea" by Liza Chan, here cropped, is marked with CC0. Bottom right: Photo by Agnes Happen, here cropped, is marked with CC0.
If we want ethical and equitable AI, we must protect and nourish the commons it relies on. Learn how we’re adapting to address sharing in the age of AI, from developing new frameworks like CC Signals, strengthening licensing guidance, and advocating for policies that keep access to knowledge open and equitable.
"Anemone coronaria" by Zeynel Cebeci is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
There are many ways to give. You can make a one-time donation or become a recurring donor by joining our Open Infrastructure Circle.
"Most Detailed Image of the Crab Nebula" taken by NASA is in the public domain.
What are your dreams for an open future? As the world changes in the age of AI, what values do you hope will remain centered? How does sharing look five year from now? Ten? Twenty?
Read the CC community’s dreams for the future of open and then add yours!
What does the Commons mean to you? Glad you asked! For Creative Commons’ 25th anniversary, we asked some of the people behind CC: What does the commons mean to you? Their answers became this four-part series of personal reflections. We’re kicking things off with four perspectives.
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