Copyright Clearance Center is a United States-based company that provides clear and easy-to-use copyright protections and instructions for attribution that can be used by anyone who:

• is seeking copyright protection for a work they have created, but would like to allow some level of use by others
• is seeking to use a created work and needs to know what use the author/creator will allow.

Creative Commons provides licensing options for everyone from individuals to large corporations a simple, one-stop way to grant different levels of copyright permissions to their works.

Copyright Clearance Center can help you to get access to materials that you'd like to use in your classroom or publishing. Their website includes a number of helpful link, including products and solutions for academic institutions. 

if you need assistance with information about Copyright Clearance Center, or how it is used in the library setting, please contact your Copyright Liaison, Pam O'Sullivan.

Works that have a Creative Commons attribution can be used in certain ways without having to formally request permission. There are six basic types of creative commons licenses ranging from simple attribution to noncommercial use with no altering of contents. In addition to using Creative Commons to get access to materials, you can also license your own work through Creative Commons, so that you can specify the way others can use your intellectual property.