Guides: Open Educational Resources (OER): Understanding Open Licensing

The 5Rs: Retain, Revise, Remix, Reuse, Redistribute

Always read and understand the licensing information for a resource before using or adapting it for your course. Open Educational Resources (OER) should provide free and perpetual permission to engage in activities known as the 5Rs:

Retain – make, own, and control a copy of the resource (e.g., you can freely download it and have a copy)
Revise – edit, adapt, and modify your copy of the resource (e.g., update content, translate it, expand or condense it)
Remix – combine your original or revised copy of the resource with other existing material to create something new (e.g., make a mashup with something else)
Reuse – use your original, revised, or remixed copy of the resource publicly (e.g., on a website, in a presentation, in a class)
Redistribute – share copies of your original, revised, or remixed copy of the resource with others (e.g., post a copy online or give one to a friend)

If you are unsure, a librarian can always assist you.

5R definitions were adapted from "Defining the 'Open' in Open Content and Open Educational Resources" by David Wiley / CC BY 4.0.
"5 Rs of OER" image retrieved from Making Open Educational Resources: A Guide for Students by Students / CC BY SA 4.0

Creative Commons Licenses

Many Open Educational Resources (OER) are shared under Creative Commons licensing. Creative Commons is a nonprofit that supports open sharing, and has developed special licenses to enable creators to grant others the legal right to use (and possibly remix) their works. There are many different CC licenses available, and each includes different permissions. When evaluating possible OER material, check to see if it displays one of the following CC licenses:

Attribution

CC BY: credit must be given to the creator.

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use.

Attribution Share-alike

BY: credit must be given to the creator.
SA: adaptations must be shared under the same terms.

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms.

Attribution Non-commercial

BY: credit must be given to the creator.
NC: only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted.

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

Attribution Non-commercial Share-alike

BY: credit must be given to the creator.
NC: only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted.
SA: adaptations must be shared under the same terms.

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms.

Universal

CC0 (aka CC Zero) is a public dedication tool, which enables creators to give up their copyright and put their works into the worldwide public domain. CC0 enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, with no conditions.

Non-OER Creative Commons Licenses

Not every Creative Commons license allows for all 5Rs of Open Educational Resources. The following two licenses do not permit revising or remixing, which are important characteristics of OER content. If you are planning to alter or adapt material, ensure that it does not use one of these licenses.

Attribution No Derivatives

BY: credit must be given to the creator.
ND: no derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted.

This license enables reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use.

Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives

BY: credit must be given to the creator.
NC: only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted.
ND: no derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted.

This license enables reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.