Licence types on YouTube

A licence gives someone legal permission to use content that other people own the rights to. Different licences have different rules about how content can be used. When you upload content to YouTube, the licence types that you can choose from are: Standard YouTube licence Creative Commons Attribution licence

Standard YouTube licence

The standard YouTube licence is the default setting for all YouTube uploads. To review the terms of the standard YouTube licence, go to our Terms of Service.

Creative Commons Attribution licence

Creative Commons is a global nonprofit organisation that gives creators a standardised way to grant someone else permission to use their work. You can add a Creative Commons Attribution licence to your video if the content is licensable under the CC BY licence. Examples include:

• Your originally created content
• Content released under a CC BY licence
• Content in the public domain

Note: If there's a Content ID claim on your video, you can't add a Creative Commons Attribution licence to your video.

If you add a Creative Commons Attribution licence to your video, it means that other creators can reuse your work subject to the terms of the CC BY licence. If you're using someone else's work under the Creative Commons Attribution licence, you need to give them credit (attribution).

Add a Creative Commons Attribution licence to your video

Using a computer, you can add a Creative Commons Attribution licence to your video during video upload or after.

During upload

1. From a computer, sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. In the top-right corner, click CREATE Upload videos .
3. Select the video that you want to upload.
4. On the Details page, at the bottom, click Show more.
5. Under Licence, click the drop-down to select Creative Commons – Attribution.

After upload

1. From a computer, sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. From the left menu, select Content .
3. Click on a video's title or thumbnail.
4. On the Details page, at the bottom, click Show more.
5. Under Licence, click the drop-down to select Creative Commons – Attribution.

Credit another creator under the Creative Commons licence

To credit another creator, you can include the following info in your video and video description:

• Title of the work
• Author of the work
• Source of the work (URL)
• Licence info, such as 'is licensed under CC BY'.

Including this info in your video can be done in various ways, such as text overlay or voiceover.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How do I find Creative Commons content on YouTube?

To find Creative Commons content on YouTube, select Creative Commons from the list of advanced search filters.

You can also look in video descriptions to see licence information.

Can I monetise content with a Creative Commons Attribution licence?

You can monetise Creative Commons content if the licence agreement grants you rights to use it commercially. Sometimes, copyright owners require you to credit the creator of the content or give proof of purchase to use it in your video for commercial purposes.

Learn more about what content you can monetise.

What type of content is eligible for a Creative Commons Attribution licence?

You can mark your uploaded video with a Creative Commons (CC) Attribution licence if it's all content that you can license under the CC BY licence. Some examples are:

• Your originally created content
• Content released under a CC BY licence
• Content in the public domain

If there's a Content ID claim on your video, you can't mark your video with the Creative Commons Attribution licence.

How do I get permission to use someone else's content?

YouTube can't grant you rights to use someone else's content and we can't help you find the parties who can grant them to you. You'll have to research and handle this process on your own or with a lawyer's help.

For example, YouTube cannot grant you the rights to use content that has already been uploaded to YouTube. If you want to use someone else's YouTube content, you may want to reach out to them directly. Some creators list ways that they can be contacted in their channel.

If you're looking to use someone else's music, visit YouTube's Audio Library for royalty-free music and sound effects that are free of charge. Learn more about using copyright-safe music on YouTube.