CC BY-NC-SA (Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike)
What Is the CC BY-NC-SA License?
CC BY-NC-SA is a Creative Commons license that allows people to reuse, remix, and adapt content for non-commercial purposes, as long as they credit the original creator and share their adaptations under the same license.
This “ShareAlike” condition ensures that all future versions remain just as open and non-commercial as the original. It helps protect the spirit of openness by requiring all derivative works to follow the same rules.
It’s a popular choice for educators, open-source advocates, and creative communities who want their work to spread freely without being used for profit. However, anyone who builds upon the original must respect both the non-commercial rule and the requirement to keep the same license terms in place, maintaining a cycle of open access and attribution.
Core Requirements
- Attribution (BY): Credit the original creator.
- NonCommercial (NC): No commercial use allowed.
- ShareAlike (SA): Derivatives must use the same license.
Key Features of the CC BY-NC-SA License
This license offers broad reuse capabilities while placing specific restrictions on commercialization and re-licensing.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Commercial Use | Not allowed in any form. |
| Modifications | Permitted, including remixes and adaptations. |
| ShareAlike Clause | Required—derivatives must be licensed under CC BY-NC-SA. |
| Attribution | Mandatory—must credit the creator and link to the license. |
| License Duration | Perpetual—remains valid until the copyright expires. |
The CC BY-NC-SA license strikes a balance between openness and protection, especially for creators who support sharing but not monetization.
Permitted Uses Under the CC BY-NC-SA License
Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike encourages educational, creative, and nonprofit applications while safeguarding works from commercial exploitation.
This license supports broad public use while requiring attribution and respecting the non-commercial intent.
What the CC BY-NC-SA License Prohibits
The NonCommercial restriction blocks any use where the primary purpose is monetary gain or direct business benefit.
If a project earns income, uses ad revenue, or is run by a for-profit company, it cannot legally use Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike content without a separate license.
How the ShareAlike Clause Works in CC BY-NC-SA
The ShareAlike clause, often called “copyleft,” ensures that any remix, adaptation, or derivative of a CC BY-NC-SA work must carry the same license. This means anyone who modifies the original content must keep it non-commercial, give proper credit, and allow others to remix or reuse their version under the same terms.
For example, if you create a new version of a CC BY-NC-SA song, you must also license your remix under Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike. You can’t restrict its use or apply a different Creative Commons license. This model preserves the original creator’s intent and helps maintain a growing pool of open, reusable content that stays free and accessible to the public across future versions.
Comparison to Other Creative Commons Licenses
Understanding how Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike fits within the larger Creative Commons framework helps determine whether it fits a particular project.
| License | Commercial Use? | Modifications? | ShareAlike Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC BY | Yes | Yes | No |
| CC BY-NC-SA | No | Yes | Yes |
| CC BY-SA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CC BY-NC | No | Yes | No |
CC BY-NC-SA is less restrictive than CC BY-NC-ND (which prohibits modifications) but more protective than CC BY, which permits both commercial and derivative uses freely.
Real-World Examples
CC Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike is widely used in academic, artistic, and collaborative settings where creators want to share freely without enabling commercial reuse.
Its flexibility for adaptation makes it popular among remix communities, while the SA clause protects long-term openness.
How to Attribute Works Under the CC BY-NC-SA License
Attribution is essential when using content licensed under Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike. You must include the creator’s name or alias clearly, whether the work is published on a website, in a video, or within a printed piece. This ensures credit is given where it’s due and honors the creator’s contribution.
You also need to provide a direct link to the original work if it’s available online. This helps others trace the source and verify your use, making the process transparent and respectful.
The license name must be spelled out in full, such as “CC BY-NC-SA 4.0,” so viewers know the specific conditions tied to the content. This informs them of their own rights and responsibilities when reusing the work.
Finally, include a link to the full license text at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ so anyone can review the exact legal terms. If you’ve altered the work in any way—cropped an image, edited text, changed the format—mention that clearly.
This information should appear in visible, accessible places, such as image captions, footnotes, or closing credits.
Common Controversies Around CC BY-NC-SA Licensing
The definition of “NonCommercial” in CC BY-NC-SA remains a major source of confusion. While the license forbids commercial use, it doesn’t clearly define what that means in practice. A blog that runs ads, a YouTube video with monetization enabled, or a podcast supported by Patreon could all fall into a gray zone. These cases might unintentionally breach the license, even if the user believes their content is personal or nonprofit in spirit.
ShareAlike requirements also cause compatibility issues. It is not legally compatible with CC BY-SA, a license used by Wikipedia and many other open platforms. This makes it impossible to merge or remix content between these two licenses, limiting collaboration and reuse in certain educational or open knowledge projects.
Enforcing compliance is another challenge. Creators often have no practical way to verify whether people who remix or adapt their content respect the ShareAlike and NonCommercial terms. On large platforms or across international users, this oversight becomes even more difficult.
Why Choose CC BY-NC-SA?
CC Attribution–NonCommercial–ShareAlike offers creators a balanced approach to sharing. It encourages adaptation and remixing while preventing others from using the work commercially without permission. This license supports creative communities that value openness and collaboration, but also want to safeguard their work from being monetized or locked away in closed ecosystems.
Benefits
The license protects against unauthorized commercial use. Businesses cannot legally sell your work, place it behind a paywall, or use it in advertisements without a separate agreement. This ensures that creators retain some control while still fostering reuse.
It also guarantees that all derivative works must stay open. Anyone who adapts your content must release it under the same CC BY-NC-SA terms, keeping the content accessible to future users.
This model is especially useful for artists who invite remixes, educators who want their lessons adapted freely, and nonprofits or online collectives working toward a shared creative commons.