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CC BY-ND (Attribution-NoDerivatives)

CC BY-ND allows sharing but prohibits derivatives. The work must be passed along unchanged. This is used when creators want wide distribution but integrity of the original.

At a Glance

Attribute Value
SPDX Identifier CC-BY-ND-4.0
Type Restrictive
Free Culture No
Attribution Required Yes
Derivatives Allowed No

What It Allows

  • Commercial use
  • Sharing and redistribution
  • Private use
  • Any format or medium

What It Requires

  • Give appropriate credit
  • Provide a link to the license
  • Share only in unmodified form
  • Indicate if format was changed

What It Prohibits

  • Modifications or adaptations
  • Remixing or building upon
  • Implying endorsement

"No Derivatives" Explained

Under CC BY-ND, you can only share the work in its original form. You may not:

  • Edit or crop images
  • Remix music
  • Translate text
  • Adapt to different contexts
  • Create derivative works of any kind

Format Shifting Is Allowed

You may change the format (e.g., convert a PDF to EPUB) as long as the content remains unchanged. You must indicate that you made a format change.

Private Modifications

The license only restricts sharing derivatives. You may:

  • Mark up a document for personal use
  • Crop an image for your desktop wallpaper
  • Edit for private study

Just don't share your modifications.

Why Choose ND?

Integrity and Accuracy

Some works need to remain unchanged:

  • Official statements or policies
  • Scientific papers (accuracy matters)
  • Artistic works (creative vision)
  • Manifestos or position papers

Allowing modifications could lead to misrepresentation.

Quality Control

Creators may not trust random modifications to maintain quality. Rather than risk poor derivatives circulating, they prevent derivatives entirely.

Personal Preference

Some creators simply don't want their work altered. Photography and visual art communities often prefer ND.

The Critique of ND

Prevents Beneficial Uses

ND prevents:

  • Translations (limiting international reach)
  • Accessibility adaptations
  • Educational adaptations for context
  • Building upon ideas

Not "Open"

Like NC, ND is not considered "Free Culture" because it restricts a fundamental freedom—the right to modify and build upon.

Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons don't accept ND content because it can't be improved or adapted.

Incompatible with Collaboration

Open source and open culture depend on the ability to modify. ND works exist in isolation—they can't be incorporated into collaborative projects.

CC BY-NC-ND

The most restrictive standard CC license combines NoDerivatives with NonCommercial:

Attribute Value
SPDX Identifier CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0
Free Culture No

This allows only non-commercial, verbatim sharing. Common uses:

  • Personal photography portfolios
  • Independent music releases
  • Conference talks and presentations
  • Pre-print academic papers

CC BY-NC-ND essentially says: "Look, but don't touch (commercially or derivatively)."

When to Choose CC BY-ND

CC BY-ND may be appropriate when:

  • Accuracy and integrity are paramount
  • You don't want the work taken out of context
  • You want wide distribution but no modifications
  • It's a complete work not intended for adaptation

When to Choose Something Else

  • Want your work to be translated → Any license without ND
  • Want to build a commons → CC BY or CC BY-SA
  • Want others to build on your work → Avoid ND
  • For software → Never use CC

Practical Considerations

If you're torn on ND:

  • Consider whether any derivative could be good
  • Translations alone often justify avoiding ND
  • Accessibility adaptations are prevented by ND
  • You can always grant permission case-by-case

Some creators choose CC BY (allowing derivatives) while maintaining moral rights—the right to object to derogatory treatment of their work.

Notable Uses

  • Some academic pre-prints (before peer review)
  • Personal photography collections
  • Music by artists who want exposure but not remixing
  • Official organizational materials