CC BY-NC-ND (Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivatives)

by Audiodrome   |   Last Updated: April 22nd, 2025   |   6 min read   |   Glossary

Definition

The CC BY-NC-ND license allows people to share a work exactly as it is, without changes and only for non-commercial use. Anyone who uses the work must credit the original creator and cannot alter, remix, or build upon the content in any way. This includes changes as small as translations or cropping.

Commercial uses are strictly prohibited unless the creator grants additional permission. Because it limits both editing and monetization, this license is typically used by creators who want to protect the original form of their work but still want it to be seen, shared, or studied in educational or nonprofit settings. It balances public access with strong control over modification and financial use.

What CC BY-NC-ND Permits and Prohibits

This license strikes a balance between access and control, allowing redistribution but blocking changes and monetization.

Split infographic showing two columns. The left column titled “What It Allows” lists: Sharing, Non-commercial use, Attribution with yellow check icons. The right column titled “What It Restricts” lists: No derivatives, No commercial use, No licensing of adaptations with blue X icons.

Permitted Uses

CC BY-NC-ND gives users the freedom to share original works in their complete, unmodified form.

People can distribute the work exactly as it was created, whether through downloads, email attachments, or resource libraries. This makes it ideal for academic syllabi, informational handouts, or archival repositories.

Use is allowed in non-commercial contexts such as classrooms, research presentations, or personal blogs without monetization. However, anything involving ads, subscriptions, or client services falls outside the license’s scope.

Redistribution is permitted as long as the original creator is credited. The attribution must include the creator’s name, the license type, and any included title or copyright notice, all placed clearly where the work is used.

Prohibited Uses

The license places firm limits on how the content may be reused, especially regarding edits and commercial settings.

No one is allowed to remix, adapt, or transform the work – even minimal edits like cropping, filtering, or translating require separate permission.

Commercial applications are strictly off-limits. That includes ads, sponsored posts, product packaging, and any project designed to earn revenue or support a business.

Modifications of any kind cannot be relicensed or redistributed. If someone wants to incorporate the work into a larger project or change its format or structure, they must request direct permission from the copyright holder.

When to Use CC BY-NC-ND

CC BY-NC-ND is ideal for creators who want their work to reach a broad audience while preserving its original form and message. The license ensures that the content remains intact and unaltered, which helps maintain the creator’s intent and voice across different contexts.

This license works well when you publish finalized content, like research papers, music albums, or illustrated reports, and do not want others to edit, remix, or use it in commercial settings. It prevents derivative works and monetized distribution, making it especially useful for creators who need to protect their intellectual property from being repackaged or exploited.

It is often chosen by authors, educators, and designers who support open access but are concerned about misrepresentation or brand dilution. The license supports nonprofit use, so your work can still appear in classrooms, personal blogs, or community archives – just not behind a paywall or within paid products.

Infographic listing four common use cases for the CC BY-NC-ND license, each with an icon. Examples include academic papers, photographs and artwork, corporate whitepapers, and personal blogs and stories. Each item includes a short explanation beneath the title.

Key Restrictions Explained

The CC BY-NC-ND license is one of the most protective in the Creative Commons suite. It combines two strict limitations: no commercial use and no modifications. Understanding these restrictions helps avoid accidental violations.

NonCommercial (NC) – What Counts as “Commercial”?

This license prohibits any use that aims to generate financial gain or promote commercial products or services. Selling the work, putting it behind a paywall, or embedding it in advertising or monetized content violates the NonCommercial condition. It also excludes use in subscription apps, paid newsletters, and for-profit training materials.

However, educational use in nonprofit classrooms, personal blogs without ads, and free access projects run by charities are generally allowed. Still, gray areas exist. Platforms that run ads, crowdfunded media, or universities that charge tuition may not qualify as non-commercial under all interpretations. When in doubt, seek written permission.

NoDerivatives (ND) – What Is Considered a “Derivative”?

The NoDerivatives clause means you must share the work exactly as received. Remixing music, translating text, cropping photos, or combining the work with other content all create derivative works and are not allowed. Even seemingly small changes—like adding subtitles, filters, or voiceovers—count as adaptations.

You can convert file formats, such as from JPG to PNG or PDF to EPUB, as long as the underlying content stays intact. You may also resize visuals (without cropping or distortion) or embed the original work in websites, slides, or printed documents.

If the result looks, sounds, or reads differently from the original, you likely need separate permission to proceed.

Comparison with Other CC Licenses

CC BY-NC-ND is the most restrictive Creative Commons license available. Unlike CC BY-NC, which permits remixing and adaptation for non-commercial use, CC BY-NC-ND does not allow any form of modification.

It also places tighter limits than CC BY-ND by forbidding commercial redistribution entirely. This means users can only share the original, unaltered work in nonprofit contexts, with proper credit.

In contrast, licenses like CC BY offer maximum flexibility by allowing both commercial use and adaptation. Creators who want to maintain strict control over how their work is used, shared, and presented typically choose CC BY-NC-ND.

Custom Comparison Table
License Commercial Use? Modifications? ShareAlike?
CC BY Yes Yes No
CC BY-NC No Yes No
CC BY-ND Yes No No
CC BY-NC-ND No No No

It is well suited for finalized content that must remain intact and non-commercial, such as reports, music releases, or educational materials.

How to Attribute a CC BY-NC-ND Work

When attributing a work under the CC BY-NC-ND license, always include the title of the work if one is provided. This helps others identify and search for the original content and respects the creator’s presentation of their work.

You should name the creator clearly and, when possible, include a hyperlink to their profile, website, or source. This ensures visibility and credit to the individual or organization behind the original work.

Always state the full license type and provide a direct link to the license page: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0. This allows users to quickly verify what they can and cannot do under the license.

Make sure to clearly note that the work has not been modified in any way. A brief statement like “No changes were made” confirms compliance with the NoDerivatives clause and reassures others that the original form has been preserved.

Screenshot of a sample attribution line for a CC BY-NC-ND licensed work. The line reads: “Sunset Over Mountains” by Jane Doe is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. No changes were made. Includes a link to the license.

The attribution should be clearly visible and near the content when used online, in publications, or in media.

Potential Issues & Controversies

While CC BY-NC-ND provides strong protection, it has sparked criticism and confusion among open licensing advocates.

Ambiguity Around “NonCommercial”

The term “NonCommercial” is not precisely defined, which leads to confusion across platforms and use cases. For instance, YouTube and similar platforms monetize most content by default, meaning creators who use CC BY-NC-ND content on such sites may unintentionally violate the license terms.

Even ad-supported blogs or podcasts fall into a gray area, especially if they promote services or collect donations. Nonprofit organizations also face uncertainty, as being nonprofit doesn’t automatically guarantee the use will be considered non-commercial.

To avoid missteps, it’s best to reach out directly to the creator for clarification or explicit permission.

“NoDerivatives” May Limit Accessibility

The NoDerivatives condition can prevent meaningful adaptation of content for accessibility purposes. Translating a document, adding captions to a video, or changing the format for screen readers are technically derivative uses and therefore not allowed under CC BY-NC-ND.

This can create barriers for audiences who need content in alternative formats, languages, or structures.

May Discourage Reuse

Due to its restrictive nature, the license may deter platforms and communities that prioritize open collaboration and remix culture.

Projects in education, media, and civic tech often rely on flexible licensing to encourage customization, localization, and creative reuse. Because CC BY-NC-ND prohibits modification and commercial use, it is often bypassed in favor of more adaptable licenses like CC BY or CC BY-SA.

As a result, works under this license may see less widespread adoption or engagement in open projects.

FAQs

Yes, as long as the newsletter or presentation is not sold, doesn’t include ads, and does not modify the work. Attribution is still required, and any formatting changes (e.g., cropping, translating) are prohibited.

No. Even a faithful translation is considered a derivative work under copyright law. You must get explicit permission from the creator to do so.

CC BY-NC-ND is not recommended for functional works like software or databases, where modifications are essential. Creative Commons advises using more permissive licenses like MIT or GPL for software.

You must contact the original creator for separate written permission. CC BY-NC-ND does not allow any changes without prior authorization, even for educational or nonprofit purposes.