Copyright law can be daunting but we have resources and expertise to help you understand the basics and choose the type of open license that will work best for you.

Creative Commons (CC)

Creative Commons is a non-profit organization based in the United States that developed a series of specialized copyright licenses that grant varying levels of permission to modify and redistribute the creative work of others, while allowing the authors to retain copyright and protect the integrity of their creative work.

CC licenses allow users to Retain, Reuse, Revise, Remix, or Redistribute (often referred to as The 5 R’s) the original material without breaking copyright law or jeopardizing intellectual property.

A CC license may include all of The 5 R’s, or only some of The 5 R’s. Be sure to read the CC license of materials carefully to make sure that you use them appropriately!
Click here to learn more about each CC license.

The 5 R’s Explained

1. Retain: make a copy and own legal rights to your copy
2. Reuse: use your legal copy in a wide range of ways
3. Revise: adapt, modify, and improve your copy)
4. Remix: combine 2 or more OER resources
5. Redistribute: share with others as much as you want

When new derivative works are created using The 5 R’s, they must contain an attribution statement: a combination of a citation—give credit where credit due—and a specialized copyright license that allows for the 5R’s. This protects intellectual property while allowing the author to legally share his or her work openly with the world.

It also allows other users the right to Retain, Reuse, Revise, Remix, or Redistribute…ad infinitum!

Attribution Statement:
" The 5 R’s and Open Licensing Explained" by Heather White, Mt. Hood Community College is licensed under CC BY 4.0 / A derivative from the original work.

Questions?
Contact copyright@mhcc.edu

Additional information on copyright.