Media Copyright Guide
Understanding copyright law and finding free media for your educational content
š� Quick Reference
Personal Use Lessons
- œ�� Public domain
- œ�� CC0, CC-BY, CC-BY-SA
- œ�� Educational fair use
- œ�� YouTube (with embed allowed)
Marketplace Lessons (Paid)
- œ�� All personal use options
- œ�� Must allow commercial use
- œ�� NO CC-BY-NC licenses
- œ�� NO "non-commercial only"
Understanding Media Copyright
Copyright is automatic legal protection for creative works (images, videos, music, text). The creator owns the copyright unless they explicitly grant permission to others.
Why This Matters for Lesson Creators
- Legal Risk: Using copyrighted media without permission can result in DMCA takedowns, lawsuits, or account termination
- Platform Protection: We enforce copyright compliance to protect both you and the platform from legal liability
- Marketplace Requirement: Selling lessons with copyrighted media violates intellectual property law
- Your Responsibility: You certify that all media is properly licensed when submitting lessons
š��ï�� Legal Note: By submitting lessons, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless the platform from any copyright claims arising from your media use. You bear full legal responsibility for media licensing.
Creative Commons License Types
| License | Commercial Use | Attribution | Marketplace OK? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Domain / CC0 | Yes | Not required | Yes |
| CC-BY | Yes | Required | Yes |
| CC-BY-SA | Yes | Required | Yes |
| CC-BY-NC | No | Required | NO |
| CC-BY-NC-SA | No | Required | NO |
| CC-BY-ND | Yes | Required | Maybe* |
| Copyrighted (All Rights Reserved) | No | N/A | NO |
*CC-BY-ND allows commercial use but prohibits modifications. OK if embedded without editing.
Recommended Free Media Sources
Images (Commercial Use Allowed)
Videos
YouTube
Educational content (verify embedding is allowed)
š�ï�� Check individual video license - Khan Academy/TED-Ed are often CC-BY-NC (personal use only)
Vimeo
Check individual creator licenses - varies by video
œ�� How to Verify Media Licensing
Check the Source Website
Look for license information on the page where you found the media. Most sites display the license clearly.
Verify Commercial Use
For marketplace lessons, ensure the license explicitly allows commercial use. Avoid "NC" (non-commercial) licenses.
Save Attribution Requirements
If the license requires attribution (CC-BY, CC-BY-SA), note the creator's name and license type in your copyright notes.
Record Media Sources
List all media source URLs in the copyright verification section (Step 6 of lesson builder) for admin verification.
š�ï�� Common Copyright Mistakes to Avoid
Using Disney/Marvel characters
Major IP like Mickey Mouse, Elsa, Spider-Man are heavily copyrighted
Google Images search
Most images found via Google are copyrighted. Use dedicated free sources instead
Stock photos with watermarks
Getty Images, Shutterstock watermarks indicate unpaid copyrighted images
Popular music by chart artists
Songs by major artists are copyrighted. Use royalty-free music libraries
CC-BY-NC for marketplace lessons
"Non-commercial" licenses cannot be used in paid lessons
Platform Copyright Policy
Our platform takes copyright compliance seriously to protect both creators and the platform from legal liability.
Enforcement
- Database-Level Blocking: RLS policies prevent lessons without copyright verification from being listed
- AI Detection: Content analysis flags potential copyright violations for manual review
- DMCA Compliance: We respond to valid takedown notices within 24-48 hours
- Account Termination: Repeat copyright violations result in permanent account suspension
Your Responsibilities
- Verify all media licensing before embedding in lessons
- Provide accurate attribution when required by licenses
- List all media sources for admin verification
- Indemnify the platform from copyright claims arising from your content
Ready to Create Compliant Lessons?
Use free, properly-licensed media and verify copyright compliance
Go to Lesson Builder