Q. Which Creative Commons licence should I apply to my thesis when depositing?

When you deposit your thesis in the CDU Research Webportal, you will be asked to select a Creative Commons (CC) licence. This licence tells others how they can use, share, and adapt your work. Choosing the right licence is important, as it applies to your thesis permanently and cannot easily be changed after deposit. 

All CC licences require attribution - CC BY (Credit must be given to the creator). Anyone using your work must credit you as the author, link to the licence, and indicate if changes were made. Beyond attribution, the main variables are:

• Commercial use (NC) - do you want to allow others to use your work for commercial purposes, such as in paid training materials or fee-paying courses? If not, add the Non-Commercial (NC) condition. CC BY-NC.
• Derivatives (ND) - do you want to allow others to adapt, remix, or build upon your work? If not, add the No Derivatives (ND) condition. Note that ND and Share Alike cannot be combined. CC BY-ND.
• Share Alike (SA) - if you allow adaptations, do you want to require that others release their adapted versions under the same licence terms? If yes, add the Share Alike (SA) condition. CC BY-SA.

For most research theses, CC BY (attribution only) is the most open and widely recommended option, as it maximises the reach and reuse of your research. However, the right choice depends on your circumstances, including any funding body requirements, cultural sensitivities, or commercial considerations related to your research.

To work out which licence suits your situation, use the CDU resources below:

• Which CC Licence is Right for You?  A simple decision tree to guide your choice.
• Creative Commons Licence for Research. A detailed explanation of each licence type with a librarian's commentary on the implications for researchers.

If your thesis contains material created by other people published under a CC licence, note that the licence you choose for your thesis applies to your own original work only; it does not override or replace the licence conditions on any third-party material included in your thesis.

Contact the CDU Library Copyright Officer for further information.