Collective Memory

Media Licensing

Last Updated: August 7, 2025

This page outlines the licensing terms for all user-submitted media on the Collective Memory platform. Our goal is to create an open and accessible database of real-world events for journalists, researchers, and creators.

1. Our Licensing Philosophy

All media uploaded to Collective Memory by our users is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). We chose this license to maximize the potential for reuse while ensuring our creators always receive credit for their work. Our mission is to empower journalists and storytellers by making important, on-the-ground media freely available.

2. What You Are Free To Do

The CC BY 4.0 license grants you several freedoms. You are free to:

  • Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
  • Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

3. Your Only Obligation: Attribution

The single condition for using media from Collective Memory is that you must provide appropriate credit. Proper attribution helps recognize and reward our community of contributors and allows others to find the original source material.

4. How to Provide Credit

Providing attribution is simple. We provide a "Copy Credit & Link" button on every memory page to make this as easy as possible. The ideal attribution format includes four parts: Title, Author, Source, and License (TASL).

Example Attribution:

"The video captures Jennifer Lopez performing on a concert stage" by Invictus, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

When possible, each part should be linked to its respective URL, as shown above. This ensures the original creator and the platform are properly credited.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use images and videos from this site in my commercial project?

Yes. The CC BY 4.0 license explicitly allows for commercial use, as long as you provide proper attribution.

Do I have to link back to the Collective Memory website?

Yes. Linking to the original memory page (the "Source") is a core part of providing good attribution. It allows your audience to explore the context of the media and find more work from the creator.

Can I edit, crop, or apply filters to the media?

Yes. The license allows you to "remix, transform, and build upon the material." You are free to adapt the media to fit your project.

6. Legal Disclaimer

This page is a human-readable summary of the CC BY 4.0 license and is not a substitute for the legal code. For the full and official terms, please refer to the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Legal Code.