Are there any databases or websites I can use for free, without worrying about copyright?
Answer
Yes.
There’s a lot of material out there which is either in the public domain or available under what is known as Creative Commons licensing, which generally means the work is available for free, subject to certain conditions (such as non-commercial use only, or use with acknowledgment of the author).
Creative Commons materials are available via the Creative Commons website. You can find audio, video, image, and text materials available under Creative Commons licensing.
For public domain material, simply search online for 'public domain' and the type of material you’re interested in.
Check our Open Educational Resources Guide for more copyright-friendly information and sources.
If you're not sure about the copyright status of something on the Internet, check the website’s Terms of Use or Legal Notices section to confirm what conditions apply to use of the website’s material. In many cases, you may be able to use the material for free for non-commercial and educational purposes.
