Copyright Policy
Understanding Creative Commons Licenses: CC BY 4.0 and CC BY-NC 4.0
At SERN, we believe in making research widely accessible while respecting the intellectual property rights of authors. To achieve this, we use Creative Commons licenses that allow researchers to share their work with clear terms of use. Two common licenses we support are CC BY 4.0 and CC BY-NC 4.0.
📜 What is a Creative Commons License?
Creative Commons (CC) licenses provide a standardized way for authors to grant permission for others to use, share, and build upon their work. These licenses ensure that authors retain copyright while allowing their research to reach wider audiences.
✅ CC BY 4.0 (Attribution 4.0 International)
The CC BY 4.0 license is one of the most flexible and widely used licenses. It permits others to:
Share: Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
Adapt: Remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
The only requirement is attribution. Users must give appropriate credit to the original author, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.
Key Benefits:
Maximizes the visibility and impact of research.
Encourages innovation and knowledge sharing.
Suitable for both academic and commercial applications.
Example: A startup may adapt your research for a commercial product, provided they credit your original work.
🚫 CC BY-NC 4.0 (Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 International)
The CC BY-NC 4.0 license has similar permissions as CC BY 4.0, but with one critical restriction:
Non-Commercial Use Only: Others may not use the work for commercial purposes.
Attribution is still required, meaning users must credit the author, link to the license, and disclose any modifications.
Key Benefits:
Ensures the research is used for educational and non-profit purposes.
Protects authors from unintended commercial exploitation.
Promotes accessibility for academic institutions and independent researchers.
Example: A university may use your research for coursework, but a private company cannot use it for profit without your permission.
💡 Choosing the Right License
When selecting a license for your research, consider the following factors:
Do you want to allow commercial use? If yes, CC BY 4.0 may be ideal.
Are you concerned about profit-driven use? Choose CC BY-NC 4.0 to restrict commercial applications.
Do you want to maximize visibility? Both licenses ensure broad dissemination with proper credit.
🔎 How SERN Supports Creative Commons Licensing
At SERN, we recommend authors carefully select the most suitable license for their research. During the submission process, you can choose between CC BY 4.0 and CC BY-NC 4.0 based on your preferences.
We ensure that:
All published research clearly displays the chosen license.
Readers can easily understand how they are permitted to use the work.
Authors retain control over their intellectual contributions.
For further guidance on licensing or publication, feel free to reach out to us at editor@sern.online.
Visit https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/cclicenses/ for more information on Creative Commons Licences.
By making your research accessible through Creative Commons licenses, you contribute to a more collaborative and innovative global research community.