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Licenses in plain words

Three licenses cover everything in this library. Here is each one in sentences a normal person can finish.

Public domain. Nobody owns it anymore, or nobody ever did. Old art whose copyright ran out, and work by governments, often lives here. Use it for anything: a book, a shirt, a business, a gift. No credit required, no permission to ask for.

CC0. The creator gave the work to the public on purpose, as fully as the law allows. It works like public domain: use it for anything, no credit required. A thank you is never wasted, but it is not owed.

CC BY. Free to use for anything, including work you sell, with one condition: credit the creator. Say who made it, name the license, and link back where you can. Every CC BY picture in this library carries a ready made credit line on its page. Copy it, paste it, done.

That is the whole system. If a picture's page says public domain or CC0, just take it kindly. If it says CC BY, take it and credit the maker. Either way, enjoy the art.

Back to the library · Respect for creators · Takedown request