Understanding Copyright License Definitions
An explanation of copyright license types.
TOTA respects copyrights. When uploading your own content to TOTA, whether it’s something you’ve written or a photograph you’ve taken, you still hold the copyright. Per TOTA’s Collaborator Agreement, you are granting TOTA permission to host and publish your content. If your content includes material you do not hold the copyright to, like an image you’ve downloaded from elsewhere on the Internet, please check the copyright for that material. Please do not upload content that you do not have permission to upload.
Since copyright labels can be confusing, we’re including a list of the most common with explanations for each.
All Rights Reserved - Content is protected by copyright and may not be copied, used, distributed or displayed without specific authorization from the creator.
Public Domain - Content that is not protected by copyright or patent, and thus available for any use by any person without fees or limitations.
Creative Commons (BY) - Content that is free to use, copy, distribute, display, and remix as long as the original author is credited. You can use the content anyway you like as long as you also include a public acknowledgement of the original author/photographer/creator. This acknowledgement is required in all Creative Commons licenses.
Creative Commons (BY-SA) - Content that is free to remix as long as the original author is credited and the derivative work does not have a more restrictive license than the original work. The “SA” means “Share Alike”. For instance, if you use photographs with a BY-SA license with something you’ve written, you cannot claim All Rights Reserved for the resulting article.
Creative Commons (BY-ND) - Content that is free to use, copy, distribute and display as long as the original author is credited. Content may not be remixed. The “ND” means “non derivative”. For example, you can use another photographer’s images to illustrate your article but you cannot make a photo collage with them.
Creative Commons (BY-NC) - Content that is free to use, copy, distribute, display and remix for non-commercial purposes only as long as the original author is credited. The “NC” means “non-commercial”. This means that you can’t use someone else’s work in your work and then sell your work, since this would mean that you would be getting paid but the original author would not.
Creative Commons (BY-NC-SA) - Content that is free to use, copy, distribute, display and remix for non-commercial purposes as long as the original author is credited and any derivative works do not have a more restrictive license than the original work.
Creative Commons (BY-NC-ND) - Content that is free to use, copy, distribute, and display, but not remix, for non-commercial purposes as long as the original author is credited.
If you are looking to add images to accompany your articles, we recommend sites like Pixabay and Unsplash for free-to-use photographs (although it’s always a good idea to double check that the specific image is indeed free-to-use). When you upload the image, be sure to include the photographer’s name in the image metadata; TOTA’s site will automatically include the acknowledgement in the image caption.
If you have any additional questions about license types or anything else on TOTA, please contact Support for assistance.
About TOTA
TOTA.world provides cultural information and sharing across the world to help you explore your Family’s Cultural History and create deep connections with the lives and cultures of your ancestors.
