CC BY-NC-ND License

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

A CC BY-NC-ND License is a Creative Commons license that lets people share a work only in its original form, only for non-commercial purposes, and only with proper attribution. In practice, it is one of the most restrictive CC licenses because it allows redistribution but blocks both commercial use and modified versions.

Quick facts:
Also called: Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivatives; CC BY-NC-ND
Applies to: text, images, music, video, educational handouts, reports, published media
Separate from: CC BY License, CC BY-NC License, CC BY-ND, CC0 License
Common uses: controlled sharing, nonprofit distribution, educational reuse, archival publishing, no-edit public release
Often handled by: creators, educators, nonprofits, publishers, archives, rights holders.

Example:
A nonprofit publishes a PDF guide under CC BY-NC-ND. Other people can repost the exact file for free educational use with credit, but they cannot sell it, translate it, crop pages into a new version, or remix the content into another product without separate permission.

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:

  • “NoDerivatives” is strict. Even changes that seem minor, such as translation, cropping, remixing, or editing, can count as derivative use.
  • “NonCommercial” can be unclear at the edges. Monetized channels, sponsor-backed posts, affiliate use, or paid distribution can push a use outside the license. This follows the same commercial boundary logic Audiodrome uses across its CC pages.
  • Attribution is still required. Sharing the work without proper credit does not comply with the license.
  • It is not public domain and not royalty-free in the broad commercial sense. The work remains copyrighted and the user gets only narrow reuse rights under stated conditions.

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.

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