- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Research Guides
- Copyright Guide for Students
- Finding Source Materials
Copyright Guide for Students : Finding Source Materials
Images You Can Use
When using any of the sources listed below, review the copyright and/or licensing agreement associated with each source. Even though the mission of the site is to be freely open, reuse or alteration may be restricted because of copyright or licensing.
- Creative CommonsDatabase of digital media works available for others to build upon legally and to share.
- UW Campus Photo LibraryDatabase of photos from UW Communications.
- flickrImage hosting website where some images are freely open to use.
- Open Clip ArtImages that are in the public domain and can be used any way you’d like.
- Getty ImagesGetty Images has recently made its photos free to use on blogs and social media websites and has an embed tool to use. There will be a small “Getty images” in the bottom right corner of the images.
- Advanced Google ImagesFilter Google Images in Advanced search for results that have usage rights.
- Earth Science World Image BankDatabase of geoscience images available for educational use.
- National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Image DatabaseCollections of images in public domain of animals, geography, and cultures.
- Science.gov Image SearchFederated search of biological and environmental, oceanic and atmospheric, and aeronautics and space images. Search and select multimedia to get images.
- PicDromeImages that have been donated to the public domain for educational and commercial use.
- World ImagesFree images from California State University that focus on art and can be used for non-profit educational purposes with credit to the copyright holder.
- Wikimedia CommonsMaterial that is posted to Wikimedia commons by users. Most of the items are free. Information is posted below each item about how it can be used.
- PixabayFree stock images all licensed as CC0 so you are not required to credit the creator. Pixabay is community for people to use and contribute free images and video.
Video You Can Use
When using any of the sources listed below, review the copyright and/or licensing agreement associated with each source. Even though the mission of the site is to be freely open, reuse or alteration may be restricted because of copyright or licensing.
- Television News ArchiveTelevision News Archive is a searchable collection of network news television broadcasts from 1968 to the present.
- BlinkxBlinkx is a video search engine that searches many video sites simultaneously, including YouTube, CNN, and CBS.
- blip.tvSupports and networks independently produced Web shows.
- Internet ArchiveMany public domain video clips that are available for streaming and downloading.
- National Park Service B-Roll VideoVideos from the National Park Service that are in the public domain.
- YouTubeContains some videos that can be used for free. Find them by typing in search terms, click on filters in the upper left hand corner of your search results, and under the features column choose Creative commons to limit your results.
- VimeoContains some videos that can be used for free. Type in a search term, choose “Show Advanced Filter,” and choose a license type. (Credit: University of Iowa)
Music You Can Use
When using any of the sources listed below, review the copyright and/or licensing agreement associated with each source. Even though the mission of the site is to be freely open, reuse or alteration may be restricted because of copyright or licensing.
- MusopenSearchable library of open source music.
- ccMixterA community music site featuring remixes licensed under Creative Commons where you can listen to, sample, mash-up, or interact with music in whatever way you want.
- Free SoundsA collaborative database of Creative Commons licensed sounds.
- JamendoA database where artists allow anyone to download and share their music.
- Vimeo Music StoreCan search for a Creative Commons license or free tracks to find songs that can be used with an attribution.
- Sound CloudMany songs and sounds that can be used. Once you do a search you can use the filter results on the side and indicate what you want to use it for and it will limit your results. (Credit: University of Iowa)
- Wikimedia CommonsMaterial that is posted to Wikimedia commons by users. Most of the items are free. Information is posted below each item about how it can be used.
- Links to Free MusicAn article from Noupe.com with several sites that contain free music. Includes great sources like audiofarm.org and freemusicarchive.org.
- YouTube Audio LibraryYouTube's library of more than 150 royalty-free instrumental tracks to choose from.