Using Openly Licensed Content

Although creating or customizing an OER is a huge undertaking, there’s no need to start from scratch! Open licenses allow reuse of content to make the creation process easier.

Just remember to review licenses before using an existing resource. While multiple types of open resources exist, the most common are the Creative Commons licenses. If the resource uses a creative commons license, you can use with the following licenses without worry: CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC BY-NC, and CC BY-NC-SA

If you’re interested in using something with a No-Derivative (ND) Creative Commons restriction  (CC BY-NC-ND and CC BY-ND licenses) or under traditional copyright, there is a possibility you can still include it in your OER.

The No-Derivative (ND) restriction (CC BY-NC-ND and CC BY-ND licenses) means that you cannot make any changes to the work. If you want to insert the whole item without changing it, you can include it in your OER. For example, you can include an image with a ND restriction in your work. However, if you wanted to crop or alter the coloring of the image before including it, you would NOT be allowed to include it in your OER.

You will likely want to enhance your open textbook with openly licensed images, videos, articles, and more. You can use the library’s guide to Finding Open Images and Multimedia to start your search. Another great resource to consult is the Sources for CC licensed works list, compiled by Creative Commons, which contains links to various repositories of open resources, including open media.

If you’re not sure about a resource’s license or whether it’s usable for your project, reach out to the Open Educational Resources Librarian!