Attribution mark (BY)

A figure in a circle requiring the creator be credited.

Currency & commercialEveryday & digitalStandard profile

Meanings

The BY mark requires that the creator is credited. It appears in every Creative Commons licence except the CC0 dedication, which is why it is the condition people meet most often and notice least.

Officially standardisedVerified fact
Requires that credit is given to the creator, a link to the licence is provided, and any changes made are indicated.
Common modern usageVerified fact
Present in every current Creative Commons licence other than the CC0 public domain dedication, so a work carrying any CC licence almost always requires attribution.

Visual description

A circle outline containing a simplified human figure: a small filled circle for the head above a broad curved shape for the shoulders.

Symmetry: vertical
Orientation: upright

Part of the same system as: Creative Commons logo
Both are built from circles.

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is defined by a current official standard.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references.

Sources

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Creative Commons · retrieved 2026-08-01
The issuing body's own published deed. Authoritative for what the licence permits and requires, and for the mark that denotes it. It is not legal advice, and it says nothing about whether a given work is validly licensed — only what the licence means if it is.
Creative Commons — About the licences
Creative Commons · retrieved 2026-08-01
The issuing body's own published deed. Authoritative for what the licence permits and requires, and for the mark that denotes it. It is not legal advice, and it says nothing about whether a given work is validly licensed — only what the licence means if it is.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

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Licensing and rights marks

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Meanings

The BY mark requires that the creator is credited. It appears in every Creative Commons licence except the CC0 dedication, which is why it is the condition people meet most often and notice least.

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Requires that credit is given to the creator, a link to the licence is provided, and any changes made are indicated.

Common modern usageVerified fact

Present in every current Creative Commons licence other than the CC0 public domain dedication, so a work carrying any CC licence almost always requires attribution.

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is defined by a current official standard.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references.

Sources

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Creative Commons · retrieved 2026-08-01
The issuing body's own published deed. Authoritative for what the licence permits and requires, and for the mark that denotes it. It is not legal advice, and it says nothing about whether a given work is validly licensed — only what the licence means if it is.
Creative Commons — About the licences
Creative Commons · retrieved 2026-08-01
The issuing body's own published deed. Authoritative for what the licence permits and requires, and for the mark that denotes it. It is not legal advice, and it says nothing about whether a given work is validly licensed — only what the licence means if it is.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

Meanings

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols

Meanings

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols