License types on YouTube

A license gives someone legal permission to use content that other people own the rights to. Different licenses have different rules about how content can be used.

When you upload content to YouTube, the license types you can choose from are:

Standard YouTube license
Creative Commons Attribution license

Standard YouTube license

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

Creative Commons Attribution license

Creative Commons is a global nonprofit organization that give creators a standardized way to grant someone else permission to use their work. You can add a Creative Commons Attribution license to your video if the content is licenseable under the CC BY license. Examples include:

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

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

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

Add a Creative Commons Attribution license to your video

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

During upload

From a computer, sign in to YouTube Studio.
In the top-right corner, click CREATE Upload videos .
Select the video you want to upload.
On the Details page, at the bottom, click Show more.
Under License, click the dropdown to select Creative Commons - Attribution.

After upload

From a computer, sign in to YouTube Studio.
From the left menu, select Content .
Click on a video's title or thumbnail.
On the Details page, at the bottom, click Show more.
Under License, click the dropdown to select Creative Commons - Attribution.

Credit another creator under the Creative Commons license

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)
License 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 license information.

Can I monetize content with a Creative Commons Attribution license?

You can monetize Creative Commons content if the license 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 monetize.

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

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

Your originally created content
Content released under a CC BY license
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 license.

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 they can be contacted in their channel.

If you’re looking to use someone else’s music, check out 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.

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