CC BY-NC License

Audiodrome | Last Updated: March 13th, 2026 | 4 min read | Glossary

A CC BY-NC License is a Creative Commons license that lets people copy, share, remix, and adapt a work as long as they give proper attribution and do not use it for commercial purposes. In practice, it matters because it allows broad reuse while reserving commercial exploitation for the original creator or anyone they separately authorize.

Quick facts:
Also called: Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial; CC BY-NC
Applies to: text, images, music, video, educational content, blogs, nonprofit projects
Separate from: CC BY License, CC0 License, Public Domain, royalty-free music
Common uses: non-commercial sharing, remixing, educational reuse, nonprofit publishing, community projects
Often handled by: creators, educators, nonprofits, archives, publishers, rights holders.

Example:
A teacher finds a CC BY-NC infographic and includes it in a free classroom handout with proper credit. That is usually allowed, but using the same graphic in a paid course, ad campaign, or monetized channel would likely fall outside the license unless separate permission is granted.

Free tools icon

Free Tools:

Where should I get music for this use? Music Source Finder

How should I credit this CC music? Attribution Line Generator

Gotchas:

  • “NonCommercial” is not always perfectly clear in edge cases; ad-supported, sponsor-backed, affiliate-linked, or ticketed uses can cross into commercial territory.
  • Attribution is still required. Users generally need to credit the creator and identify the license when reusing the work.
  • CC BY-NC allows adaptations, but that does not make commercial reuse of the adapted version automatically allowed.
  • It is not the same as royalty-free music or public domain. The work remains copyrighted and the commercial-use restriction still applies.

FAQs

Only if you disable monetization. Platforms like YouTube or Twitch allow creators to generate revenue through ads, memberships, or sponsorships. If your video uses CC BY-NC music and earns money, even passively, it likely violates the license.

Not always. “Nonprofit” status doesn’t automatically mean “non-commercial.” If your event charges admission, sells merchandise, or seeks donations, that use may be considered commercial under CC BY-NC. It’s best to check with the content creator.

Yes, as long as your use stays non-commercial and you still credit the original creator. You do not have to apply the same license (unlike CC BY-SA), but you cannot apply more restrictive terms that would prevent legal reuse under CC BY-NC.

Yes, typically. Even if a blog or video is free to access, including affiliate links (e.g., Amazon, booking services) introduces a profit motive, which may breach the NonCommercial clause.

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Related terms:
Creative Commons • CC BY License • CC0 License • CC BY-NC-ND License • CC BY-SA License • Commercial Use • Attribution • Non-Commercial Use