Introduction

The Noun Project aims to be a resource for visual language, and we can't do this without the help of our global community. We use Creative Commons licenses because they provide designers the creative rights to own and share their work, while allowing people from around the world to collaborate as a community to create this language.

Contributors upload symbols as either public domain or under Creative Commons - Attribution (CC BY) license. For most CC BY symbols, you can pay a small fee to the designer to waive the Attribution Requirement. This allows you to use the symbol without attribution in your personal, commercial, or client projects (including web design, advertising, film, software applications, etc.) Besides not having the hassle of attribution, your purchase also supports the designer and encourages them to create and share more symbols.

Types of Licenses

• CC BY

  This license enables you to download, use, copy, share, modify, and build upon the symbol as long as you follow proper Attribution Requirements, or pay a small fee to not have to attribute.

• CC 0

  No Rights Reserved is a public domain dedication tool which allows the designer or owner of a symbol to declare the work free of any copyright. Symbols submitted under CC0 are in the public domain, and do not require attribution.

• Public Domain Mark

  This license does not require attribution. An example of this would be an original work of the US Government, or works that have already been released into the public domain.

Commercial Usage

Symbols from The Noun Project may be used in commercial works as long as the proper attribution requirements are followed. Any symbol licensed as CC BY must credit the original designer as well as The Noun Project, unless the icon was purchased to waive the attribution requirement.

Digital Attribution

Any icon licensed as CC BY that was not purchased must include a credit to the original designer and The Noun Project. The attribution must be listed where it’s easily accessible and visible to the viewer.

Example Cloud designed by Adam Whitcroft from The Noun Project

• Videos

  Show the attribution at the end of the video as well as in the video description.

• Apps

  Include the attribution in either the About, Credits or Settings page of the app.

• Websites

  Include the attribution either on the page where the symbol is displayed, or in About or Credits pages.

Print Attribution

Example Cloud Icon designed by Adam Whitcroft from The Noun Project

• Magazines

  The attribution should be displayed either in the same article as the symbol, with the colophon, or at the back of the magazine.

• Books

  The attribution should be displayed either in the same article as the symbol, with the colophon, or at the back of the book.

• Posters

  The attribution may be placed anywhere on the poster that suits the design, as long as it is legible.