Copyright Types

What Is Copyright?

Copyright is a legal concept that protects a creator’s rights over their artistic, literary, visual, musical, or other types of creative works. In writing, there are several types of copyright, each with different uses and permissions:

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1. All Rights Reserved (Traditional Copyright / Legally Protected Copyright)

This is the standard form of copyright protected by law. Every part of a work under this copyright cannot be used, copied, adapted, or published without the creator’s explicit permission. All original content is protected under copyright law the moment it is created and published.

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2. Public Domain

Works in the public domain are free to use, adapt, copy, and publish without restrictions. No permission or payment is needed, and the original creator does not need to be credited.

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3. Creative Commons (CC)

Creative Commons licenses allow creators to share their work freely, but with certain conditions. Authors using CC licenses define how their works may be used, and users must follow those specific terms. The main types include:

(CC) Attribution (BY)

You can use, copy, or adapt the work—even for commercial purposes—as long as you credit the original creator in the way they request.

(CC) Non-Commercial (NC)

You can use, copy, or share the work, but not for profit. You must also credit the original creator.

(CC) No Derivative Works (ND)

You can use and share the work without making any changes to the content. You must credit the creator.

(CC) Share Alike (SA)

You can adapt or change the work, but the new creation must be shared under the same license as the original. You cannot claim exclusive copyright over a modified version of a Share Alike work.