Legalcode errata
Despite our best efforts, spelling errors and other errata are sometimes included in the published legal code for licenses. Creative Commons publishes SHA1 checksums for legal code, which allows people who receive a copy of the license to easily verify this it has not been tampered with. Therefore Creative Commons does not amend legal code once published.
Creative Commons is planning an errata service which will allow us to record and report the typographical errata for a license without modifying the document itself. This service is currently under development, and will launch at some time in the future (probably 2010). Until that time, this wiki page collects known errata for license legal code. If you discover a spelling error on a license, please record it here. The information on this page will be integrated in the errata service at launch time.
Recurring bugs
by-sa with by-nc-sa as example compatible port
Found in (at least, pending further review). See section 4(b) or 4(β) in the Greece license:
- by-sa 3.0 gr
- by-sa 3.0 ph
- by-sa 2.5 ca (en and fr)
- by-sa 2.0 at
- by-sa 2.0 ca (en and fr)
- by-sa 2.0 de
- by-sa 2.0 fr
Header color-coding not correct
The headers of the legalcode are color-coded to indicate the relative openness of the licenses. A green header means more open, and this is only applied to the BY and BY-SA licenses. The BY-NC, BY-NC-ND, BY-NC-SA and BY-ND legalcode should have a yellow header.
Has a green header, but should be yellow:
- by-nc, by-nc-nd, by-nc-sa, by-nd 3.0 gt (Guatemala)
- by-nc, by-nc-sa, by-nc-nd, by-nd 3.0 ec (Ecuador)
- by-nc, by-nc-sa, by-nc-nd, by-nd 3.0 lu (Luxembourg)
Has a yellow header, but should be green:
- by, by-sa 3.0 gr (Greece)
"Creative Commons Compatible License" Clause
In BY SA licenses, the "Creative Commons Compatible License" clause in Section 1 should make reference to "Unported" license, as in the example from BY SA 3.0 US: "(ii) explicitly permits the relicensing of derivatives of works made available under that license under this License or either a Creative Commons unported license or a Creative Commons jurisdiction license with the same License Elements as this License." (italics added)
Licenses without reference to Unported:
- by-sa 3.0 ph
- by-sa 3.0 nz
- by-sa 3.0 no
- by-sa 3.0 ro
Incorrect reference to "the Applicable License"
Some 3.0 licenses may incorrectly refer to "the [or for] Applicable License" instead of "this License" in section 4(b)(I) of the BY-SA license and section 4(b) of the BY-NC-SA license.
Licenses known to contain this error:
- by-sa & by-nc-sa 3.0 Unported
- by-sa & by-nc-sa 3.0 United States
Unported License Errata
By Section
Section 3
Section 3(d) "set forth" vs "described"
- BY-NC: "including but not limited to the rights set forth is Section 4"
- BY-NC-ND: "including but not limited to the rights set forth in Section 4"
- BY-NC-SA: "including but not limited to the rights described in Section 4"
Section 3 (various sub)"Section" included or not
- BY 3(e)(iii): "Subject to Section 8(f), all rights not expressly granted"
- BY-NC 3(d): "Subject to Section 8(f), all rights not expressly granted"
- BY-SA 3(e)(iii):"Subject to Section 8(f), all rights not expressly granted"
- BY-ND 3(c)(iii):"Subject to Section 8(f), all rights not expressly granted"
- BY-NC-SA 3(d): "Subject to Section 8(f), all rights not expressly granted"
- BY-NC-ND 3(b): "Subject to 8(f), all rgihts not expressly granted"
Section 3 (various sub) "8(f)" vs "8(e)" All the licenses say "8(f)". They should be as follows:
- BY 3(e)(iii): 8(f)
- BY-NC 3(d): 8(e)
- BY-SA 3(e)(iii): 8(f)
- BY-ND 3(c)(iii): 8(e)
- BY-NC-SA 3(d): 8f
- BY-NC-ND 3(b): 8e
Section 4
Section 4(b)positioning of lowercase (i)
- BY-SA: "only under the terms of: (i) this License"
- BY-NC-SA: "only under: (i) the terms of this License"
Section 4(b)"the" included or not
- BY-SA: "You must include a copy of, or the URI for, the Applicable License with every copy"
- BY-NC-SA: "You must include a copy of, or the URI, for Applicable License with every copy"
Section 4(b)Numerals in BY-SA only
- BY-SA:"(I) You must include a copy of"
- BY-NC-SA:"You must include a copy of"
- BY-SA: "every copy of the Work You Distribute or Publicly Perform; (II) You may not offer"
- BY-NC-SA: "every copy of the Work You Distribute or Publicly Perform. You may not"
- BY-SA: "the terms of the Applicable License; (III) You must keep intact all notices"
- BY-NC-SA: "the terms of the Applicable License. You must keep intact all notices"
- BY-SA: "You Distribute or Publicly Perform; (IV) when You Distribute or Publicly Perform the Adaptation"
- BY-NC-SA: "You Distribute or Publicly Perform. When You Distribute or Publicly Perform the Adaptation"
Section 4 (various sub) "connection" vs "con-nection"
- BY-NC 4(b): "provided there is no payment of any monetary compensation in connection with the exchange of copyrighted works."
- BY-NC-SA 4(c): "provided there is no payment of any monetary compensation in con-nection with the exchange of copyrighted works."
- BY-NC-ND 4(b): "provided there is no payment of any monetary compensation in connection with the exchange of the copyrighted works."
Section 4 (various sub) Punctuation and "Section" vs "Ssection"
- BY 4(b): "the copyright notice or licensing information for the Work; and (iv), consistent with Section 3(b), in the case of Adaptation"
- BY-NC 4(c): "the copyright notice or licensing information for the Work; and, (iv) consistent with Section 3(b), in the case of Adaptation"
- BY-SA 4(c): "the copyright notice or licensing information for the Work; and (iv), consistent with Ssection 3(b), in the case of Adaptation"
- BY-NC-SA 4(d): "the copyright notice or licensing information for the Work; and, (iv) consistent with Section 3(b), in the case of Adaptation"
Section 4(b)Use of "the"
- BY-ND: "if a credit for all contributing authors of the Collection appears"
- BY-NC-ND: "if a credit for all contributing authors of Collection appears"
Section 5
Use of "To"
- BY: "Unless Otherwise Mutually Agreed To By the Parties in writing"
- BY-NC: "Unless Otherwise Mutually Agreed To By the Parties in writing"
- BY-SA: "Unless Otherwise Mutually Agreed To By the Parties in writing"
- BY-ND: "Unless Otherwise Mutually Agreed To By the Parties in writing"
- BY-NC-SA: "Unless Otherwise Mutually Agreed To By the Parties in writing"
- BY-NC-ND: "Unless Otherwise Mutually Agreed By the Parties in writing"
"Merchantibility" vs "Merchantability"
- BY: "Including, Without Limitation, Warranties of Title, Merchantibility, Fitness for a Particular Purpose"
- BY-NC: "Including, Without Limitation, Warranties of Title, Merchantibility, Fitness for a Particular Purpose"
- BY-SA: "Including, Without Limitation, Warranties of Title, Merchantibility, Fitness for a Particular Purpose"
- BY-ND: "Including, Without Limitation, Warranties of Title, Merchantibility, Fitness for a Particular Purpose"
- BY-NC-SA:"Including, Without Limitation, Warranties of Title, Merchantability, Fitness for a Particular Purpose"
- BY-NC-ND: "Including, Without Limitation, Warranties of Title, Merchantibility, Fitness for a Particular Purpose"
"Such" vs "This"
- BY: "so Such Exclusion May Not Apply To You"
- BY-NC: "so Such Exclusion May Not Apply To You"
- BY-SA: "so Such Exclusion May Not Apply To You"
- BY-ND: "so Such Exclusion May Not Apply To You"
- BY-NC-SA: "so This Exclusion May Not Apply To You"
- BY-NC-ND: "so Such Exclusion May Not Apply To You"
Notice
End of last paragraph "this" vs "the"
- BY: "this trademark restriction does not form part of this License."
- BY-NC: "this trademark restriction does not form part of the License."
- BY-SA: "this trademark restriction does not form part of the License."
- BY-ND: "this trademark restriction does not form part of this License."
- BY-NC-SA: "this trademark restriction does not form part of this License."
- BY-NC-ND: "this trademark restriction does not form part of this License."
By License
BY 3.0 unported
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode
- 4(b) has the comma after "and (iv)" instead of between "and" and "iv" like BY-NC and BY-NC-SA.
- Section 5 does not include the phrase "And to the Fullest Extent Permitted by Applicable Law," before "Licensor Offers the Work As-IS and Makes No Representations". Only BY-NC-SA has this phrase.
BY-NC 3.0 unported
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/legalcode
- The last paragraph of section 3 makes reference to a section 8(f), which doesn't actually exist. Instead, it should refer to section 8(e).
- Section 5 does not include the phrase "And to the Fullest Extent Permitted by Applicable Law," before "Licensor Offers the Work As-IS and Makes No Representations". Only BY-NC-SA has this phrase.
- Section 5 has the misspelling "Merchantibility". Only BY-NC-SA has the correct spelling.
- The Notice at the end says "the License" instead of "this License". BY-SA is also incorrect.
BY-SA 3.0 unported
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode
- 1(b) cites 1(f), should cite 1(h).
- 1(b) says Adaption is defined above, not below as the text states.
- The last paragraph of Section 3 is missing "including but not limited to the rights described in Section 4(e)" after "granted by Licensor are hereby reserved". BY-SA is missing Section 4(e). BY-NC-SA is correct.
- 4(b) has uppercase roman numerals that are not present in BY-NC-SA.
- 4(c) has the comma after "and (iv)" instead of between "and" and "(iv)".
- 4(c) has a spelling error: "(iv) , consistent with Ssection 3(b)".
- Section 5 does not include the phrase "And to the Fullest Extent Permitted by Applicable Law," before "Licensor Offers the Work As-IS and Makes No Representations". Only BY-NC-SA has this phrase.
- Section 5 has the misspelling "Merchantibility". Only BY-NC-SA has the correct spelling.
- The Notice at the end says "the License" instead of "this License". BY-NC is also incorrect.
BY-ND
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/legalcode
- The last paragraph of section 3 makes reference to a section 8(f), which doesn't actually exist. Instead, it should refer to section 8(e).
- Section 5 does not include the phrase "And to the Fullest Extent Permitted by Applicable Law," before "Licensor Offers the Work As-IS and Makes No Representations". Only BY-NC-SA has this phrase.
- Section 5 has the misspelling "Merchantibility". Only BY-NC-SA has the correct spelling.
BY-NC-SA
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/legalcode
- 3(d) says "including but not limited to the rights described in Section 4" instead of "set forth in Section 4".
- 4(b) has a mix-up in where the lower case roman numerals begin. It says "You may Distribute or Publicly Perform an Adaptation only under: (i) the terms of this License; (ii) a later version" instead of "only under the terms of: (i) this License; (ii)". BY-SA is correct.
- 4(b) is missing the word "the" and has a misplaced comma. It says "You must include a copy of, or the URI, for Applicable License with every copy of" instead of "or the URI for, the Applicable License". BY-SA has it correctly.
- 4(b) does not have the upper case roman numerals present in the BY-SA license. Instead of a full stop (.), each clause should end with a semi-colon (;) and be followed by the proper uppercase roman numeral. The numerals and sentences correspond as follows:
- (I) You must include a copy of...
- (II) You may not offer...
- (III) You must keep intact all notices...
- (IV) when You Distribute or Perform the Adaptation.... (the lower case "when" is also different).
- 4(c) says "no payment of any monetary compensation in con-nection with the exchange" instead of "compensation in connection with".
- Section 5 reads "Do Not Allow the Exclusion of Implied Warranties so This Exclusion May Not Apply To You" instead of "so Such Exclusion May Not Apply To You." All other licenses are correct.
BY-NC-ND
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/legalcode
- 3(b) is missing the word "Section" before "8(f)". It says "Subject to 8(f)" instead of "Subject to Section 8(f), all rights not expressly granted". All other licenses are correct.
- The last paragraph of section 3 makes reference to a section 8(f), which doesn't actually exist. Instead, it should refer to section 8(e).
- 4(b) is missing the word "the". It says "if a credit for all contributing authors of Collection appears" instead of "of the Collection appears". BY-ND has it correctly
- Section 5 is missing the word "to". It says "Unless Otherwise Mutually Agreed By the Parties in Writing" instead of "Agreed To By the Parties". All other licenses are correct.
- Section 5 does not include the phrase "And to the Fullest Extent Permitted by Applicable Law," before "Licensor Offers the Work As-IS and Makes No Representations". Only BY-NC-SA has this phrase.
- Section 5 has the misspelling "Merchantibility". Only BY-NC-SA has the correct spelling.
Individual license errata
by 3.0 us
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/legalcode
Section (3) b. includes two semicolons (;). "...or a modification could indicate "The original work has been modified.";;"
by-sa 3.0 us
Section 4(a) (about mid paragraph), the sentence "You may not impose any technological measures on the Work that restrict the ability of a recipient of the Work from You to exercise of the rights granted to that recipient under the terms of the License." The bolded word "of" should not be there.
all 3.0 es (Spain)
Missing jurisdiction flag
by 2.0 de
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/de/legalcode
(1) Lizenzvertrag: < UNTER DER VORAUSSETZUNGEIN, DASS --- > UNTER DER VORAUSSETZUNG EIN, DASS (2) Definitionen: < f. f. Unter dem „Schutzgegenstand"wird < verstanden --- > f. Unter dem „Schutzgegenstand" wird > verstanden. (3) Gewährleistung: < vereinbart,, --- > vereinbart, (4) Schlussbestimmungen: < a. a. Jedes Mal --- > a. Jedes Mal (5) < HAT CREATIVE COMMONS ALL RECHTE [...] < LIZENSGEBERS [...] < KENIE VERTRAGSPARTEI [...] < ÜBREEINSTIMMUNG --- > HAT CREATIVE COMMONS ALLE RECHTE [...] > LIZENZGEBERS [...] > DARF KEINE VERTRAGSPARTEI [...] > ÜBEREINSTIMMUNG
by-sa 2.0 it
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/it/legalcode
- 4(b) is a repeat of 4(a)
- corrected in http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/it/legalcode
devnations 2.0 (retired)
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/devnations/3.0/legalcode
- economy is misspelled
by, by-nc, by-nc-nd, by-nd, by-sa 2.0 fr
All of these license have a section 5(a)(i) that references a non-existent section 4(e). The by-nc-sa license is not affected and this is probably a by-product of the fact that the by-nc-sa license is usually the template for all the others.
by, by-nc, by-nc-nd, by-nc-sa, by-nd, by-sa 3.0 nl
In the last sentence of section 3 the word 'beschikt' is misspelled (as 'beschickt')