Private company

Creative Commons

Logo: Creative Commons, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

Organization designing open copyright licenses

Creative Commons (CC) is an American nonprofit organization and international network devoted to educational access and expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. The organization has released several copyright licenses, known as Creative Commons licenses (CC licenses), free of charge to the public, to allow authors of creative works to communicate which rights they reserve and which rights they waive for the benefit of recipients or other creators.2 It was founded by Lawrence Lessig, Eric Eldred and Hal Abelson.1 Its chief executive is Anna Tumadóttir (since 2024).1 It employed 147 people.1 Its revenue was $4.9 million in 2023.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

Jan 15, 2001Founded1
  • HeadquartersMountain View1
  • Websitecreativecommons.org
  • Legal formnonprofit organization1
  • Slogan“Creative Commons develops, supports, and stewards legal and technical infrastructure that maximizes digital creativity, sharing, and innovation.”1

Creative Commons (CC) is an American nonprofit organization and international network devoted to educational access and expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. The organization has released several copyright licenses, known as Creative Commons licenses (CC licenses), free of charge to the public, to allow authors of creative works to communicate which rights they reserve and which rights they waive for the benefit of recipients or other creators. Content owners still maintain their copyright, but Creative Commons licenses give standard releases that replace the individual negotiations for specific rights conducted between owners (licensors) and licensees under "all rights reserved" copyright.2

Corporate structure

Creative Commons sits at the top of its group. 4 entities, 4 countries on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Creative Commons Mountain View
    • Creative Commons Bangladesh Subsidiary · Bangladesh, Bangladesh
    • Creative Commons India Subsidiary · India
    • Creative Commons Indonesia Subsidiary · Indonesia

Built from subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0); major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Founded by Eric Eldred, Hal Abelson and Lawrence Lessig on Jan 15, 2001.1

The organization was founded in 2001 by Lawrence Lessig, Hal Abelson, and Eric Eldred, with the support of Center for the Public Domain. The first article in a general interest publication about Creative Commons, written by Hal Plotkin, was published in February 2002. The first set of copyright licenses was released in December 2002 (original press release was dated 16th December, 2002). The founding management team that developed the licenses and built the Creative Commons infrastructure as it is known today included Molly Shaffer Van Houweling, Glenn Otis Brown, Neeru Paharia, and Ben Adida.

In 2002, Creative Commons was selected as the successor of the Open Content Project, a 1998 precursor project by David A. Wiley. Wiley subsequently joined Creative Commons as its director. The licenses published by the Open Content Project, the Open Content License and Open Publication License, were soon deprecated in favour of Creative Commons licenses. Aaron Swartz played a role in the early stages of Creative Commons, as did Matthew Haughey.

From Wikipedia’s article on Creative Commons, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Leadership

Who has led Creative Commons, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Products and brands

  • Creative Commons license

Listed on Wikidata.1

Until April 2018, Creative Commons had over 100 affiliates working in over 75 jurisdictions to support and promote CC activities around the world. In 2018 this affiliate network has been restructured into a network organisation. The network no longer relies on affiliate organisation but on individual membership organised in Chapter.

Hungary

Creative Commons Hungary was the affiliated network of Creative Commons in Hungary. The non-profit organization was founded in Budapest, Hungary, in 2008 and was deleted from the official registry on February 6, 2017.

Japan

Creative Commons Japan (CC Japan/CCJP) is the affiliated network of Creative Commons in Japan. In 2003, the International University GLOCOM held a meeting for the CC Japan preparation. In March 2004, CC Japan was launched by GLOCOM University. CC Japan is the world's second CC affiliated network (the first is in America). In March 2006, CC Japan become the NPO and be in motion. In the same month, the CC founder Lawrence Lessig came to Japan to be one of the main holders of the open ceremony.

Within the same year, between May and June, different international events were held in Japan, including iSummit 06 and the first through third rounds of CCJP.

Read the full text

In February 2007, the ICC x ClipLife 15 second CM competition was held. In June, iSummit 07 was held. In July, the fourth CCJP was held. On July 25, Tokyo approved Nobuhiro Nakayama (中山信弘) to become the NGO chairman of CCJP. In 2008, Taipie ACIA joined CCJP. The main theme music which was chosen by CCJP was announced. In 2009, INTO INFINITY shown in Tokyo and Sapporo. iPhone held the shows with Audio Visual Mixer for INTO INFINITY. (Apple joint research and development with CCJP) In 2012, the 10th anniversary ceremony was held in Japan. In 2015, Creative Commons 4.0 and Creative Commons 0 were released in Japanese language.

South Korea

Creative Commons Korea (CC Korea) is the affiliated network of Creative Commons in South Korea. In March 2005, CC Korea was initiated by Jongsoo Yoon (in Korean: 윤종수), former Presiding Judge of Incheon District Court, as a project of Korea Association for Infomedia Law (KAFIL). The major Korean portal sites, including Daum and Naver, have been participating in the use of Creative Commons licences. In January 2009, the Creative Commons Korea Association was consequently founded as a non-profit incorporated association. Since then, CC Korea has been actively promoting the liberal and open culture of creation as well as leading the diffusion of Creative Common in the country.

Creative Commons Korea

Creative Commons Asia Conference 2010

Bassel Khartabil

Bassel Khartabil was a Palestinian Syrian open source software developer who served as a project lead and public affiliate for Creative Commons Syria. On March 15, 2012, he was detained by the Syrian government in Damascus at Adra Prison for no crime. On October 17, 2015, the Creative Commons Board of Directors passed a resolution calling for Bassel Khartabil's release. In 2017, Bassel's wife received confirmation that Bassel had been killed shortly after she lost contact with him in 2015.

From Wikipedia’s article on Creative Commons, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Subsidiaries and ownership

Subsidiaries

  • Creative Commons Bangladesh
  • Creative Commons India
  • Creative Commons Indonesia

From Wikidata.1

Revenue over time

As stated on Wikidata, in the currency reported.

Revenue

Creative Commons revenue by year1$4.9M in 2023+68% since 2014
0$5.0M$10.0M$15.0M2014: $2.9M$2.9M20142015: $1.7M$1.7M2015−42%2016: $12.6M$12.6M2016+638%2017: $1.6M$1.6M2017−87%2018: $2.0M$2.0M2018+22%2019: $3.3M$3.3M2019+63%2020: $942.8K$942.8K2020−71%2021: $9.9M$9.9M2021+945%2022: $7.7M$7.7M2022−22%2023: $4.9M$4.9M2023−36%
  • 2023$4.9M1
  • 2022$7.7M1
  • 2021$9.9M1
  • 2020$942.8K1
  • 2019$3.3M1
  • 2018$2.0M1

Timeline

  1. Apr 2024New chief executive Anna Tumadóttir becomes CEO1
  2. Aug 17, 2020New chief executive Catherine Stihler becomes CEO1
  3. Jun 1, 2014New chief executive Ryan Merkley becomes CEO1
  4. Jan 15, 2001Founded Founded1

Funding

Where the company's money came from, by calendar year: private offerings filed with the SEC, federal grants, loans, contracts and other assistance from USAspending.gov, and PPP loans from the SBA. Each bar links to the records below.

Money received by year$685.0K 2020–2021
Money received by yearMoney received by year, 2020–2021: $685.0K in all. PPP loans $685.0K.$0$100K$200K$300K$400K2020 · PPP loans: $342.5K20202021 · PPP loans: $342.5K2021
Figures by year
YearPPP loansTotal
2021$342.5K$342.5K
2020$342.5K$342.5K

PPP loans

Paycheck Protection Program loans of $150,000 and up, approved April 2020 to July 2021, from the SBA5. Matched to this company by name and state.

  1. Apr 15, 2020$342.5K PPP loan (first draw) from Bank of America, National Association5To CREATIVE COMMONS CORPORATION, Mountain View CA; $346.3K forgiven May 21, 2021
  2. Mar 1, 2021$342.5K PPP loan (second draw) from Bank of America, National Association5To CREATIVE COMMONS CORPORATION, Mountain View CA; $345.5K forgiven Jan 13, 2022