Copyright-Friendly Media
You must be careful about the media (images, songs, video clips, etc.) that you insert into your digital projects, especially when the audience is outside the classroom walls (available for people to view online, presented publicly, etc.). Not all media is available to you to legally use, even if you give credit!
However, there are places you can go online to find media that you CAN legally use, because the creators have given permission through Creative Commons licensing. There are different levels of permission for each item, based on the creator's preferences. Also, some creators require you to give credit to them if you borrow their media, and others don't. See Creative Commons Licenses for details on licensing types and usage restrictions.
Some creation tools, such as WeVideo, provide copyright friendly stock media that you can import and use from right inside the program, without giving credit . But be careful - some tools, such as Google Docs and Slides, offer you the opportunity to search the web for media, but it is not necessarily copyright friendly!
See the chart below for suggested sources for copyright-friendly media and the rules for giving credit (attribution). At the bottom of the page, you'll find tips to giving credit in the proper format.
However, there are places you can go online to find media that you CAN legally use, because the creators have given permission through Creative Commons licensing. There are different levels of permission for each item, based on the creator's preferences. Also, some creators require you to give credit to them if you borrow their media, and others don't. See Creative Commons Licenses for details on licensing types and usage restrictions.
Some creation tools, such as WeVideo, provide copyright friendly stock media that you can import and use from right inside the program, without giving credit . But be careful - some tools, such as Google Docs and Slides, offer you the opportunity to search the web for media, but it is not necessarily copyright friendly!
See the chart below for suggested sources for copyright-friendly media and the rules for giving credit (attribution). At the bottom of the page, you'll find tips to giving credit in the proper format.
Media Sources |
How to Access and Give Credit |
Online Databases via ClassLink (images, videos, and sounds) |
Copy and paste the citation given to you in MLA or APA format |
Creative Commons (images) |
Attribution available to copy and paste |
Photos For Class (images) |
Embeds attribution on downloaded picture |
Reshot (icons, illustrations, photos) |
Attribution appreciated but not required - see tips below |
Attribution appreciated but not required - see tips below |
|
Attribution appreciated but not required - see tips below |
|
Open Clip Art Library (clip art) |
Attribution appreciated but not required - see tips below |
Attribution appreciated but not required - see tips below |
|
Attribution appreciated but not required - see tips below |
|
Use "License" pull-down menu to select "No restrictions," and use with no attribution, OR select an attribution license, and create an attribution - see tips below |
|
Type in your search term followed by a comma and then “creativecommons" - attribution appreciated but not required - see tips below |
|
AudioNautix (music) |
Give credit in the following way: give credit: "music by audionautix.com" |
Give Credit to the Sources of the Media You Borrow
Make Your Own Media
- See How to Give Attribution for an explanation and example on how to appropriately give credit to Creative Commons media.
- See Best Practices for Attribution for more guidance.
- Use the Creative Commons Attribution Builder for help in building your attributions.
Make Your Own Media
- Make Your Own GIF With Brush Ninja
- Draw your GIF, and add a background.
- No need to cite.
- Tutorial video
- Create your own music with the help of a crew of beatboxers with Incredibox.