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Find original permission
Start with the creator’s page or an authorised distributor. Record licence, version, address and review date. An uncredited copy on another profile proves nothing. If permission remains unknown, use your own work or seek clarification before publication.
Read the conditions
Creative Commons offers licences combining several conditions. Check attribution, commercial use, adaptation and sharing adaptations in the official overview. Do not license elements you lack the right to license; check photographs, music and team contributions separately.
Make the credit travel
Place required information near the work: creator, source, licence and changes as its conditions require. A comment credit may disappear when shared. Keep a production record. A credit must not suggest that the creator endorses your organisation or message.
Examine other rights
A copyright licence does not automatically settle identifiable people, trademarks, confidentiality or contracts. Check these matters in the intended context. This method organises reading conditions and keeping records; it does not replace legal assessment of a particular situation.
Choose the right check for the situation
These editorial pointers help prepare and review your work. Choose the situation matching your content; check current features and conditions in the cited sources before applying it to a service.
| Situation | Useful action | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Image reshared without a creator | Trace the original page and record permission before using the file. | Treating an available download as permission to republish. |
| Work with an identified licence | Read the exact version and conditions for your use; retain the source link. | Reducing every licence to the phrase “royalty free”. |
| Edit combining music and a photograph | Check each element separately and the permissions needed for the edit. | Assuming the photograph’s licence also covers the music. |
| Credit in a post | Provide attribution that stays readable with the file and disclose required adaptations. | Suggesting that the creator endorses your message or organisation. |
Hypothetical example: apply the method
A team prepares a poster with a photo found in a portfolio. It checks the source licence and planned adaptation, then keeps the credit in the poster and production file. It drops the image if permission remains uncertain.
Template to adapt
Copy this outline into your working document. It collects no information on this site; complete it for your situation.
Work and creator: Source: Licence and version: Planned use: Changes: Credit: Other permissions:
Your pre-use check
0 / 4 checks completed
Frequently asked questions
Is crediting the creator enough?
Attribution alone does not create permission. Also check the conditions for the intended use.
Is a free image free of restrictions?
Price does not define permissions. Consult the licence and other applicable rights.
Continue with related content
Sources and scope
Primary references consulted for factual points. Methods and templates are editorial suggestions; service conditions should still be checked in current documentation.