The following sites will help you find files you have permission to use, provided you follow the terms of the license. It is your responsibility to find, read and abide by the terms for the materials you use and to keep track of your sources and give attribution as appropriate. Look for the terms of use or terms and conditions on every site that you visit. If you are unsure about whether or not a particular resource can be reproduced try this Copyright Decision Tool from the Council of Ministers of Education of Canada.
Sources for Images and Music Files
- Pics4Learning: Copyright-friendly images for use in education.
Pics4Learning Image Use Policy - Open Clip Art Library: An archive of clip art with Creative Commons Public Domain designation.
Open Clip Art Policies - flickr Creative Commons: User photos with CC licensing. Browse by license type.
Review the different license terms on the flickr Creative Commons page. - flickr: The Commons: Public Domain images from museums and archives.
Copyright information for images in The Commons. - Wikimedia Commons: Public domain and “freely-licensed media files.
Commons: Reusing content outside Wikimedia - DK Images: Images from the Dorling Kindersley book series
DK Images Terms and Conditions of Use - freeplaymusic: Broadcast quality music.
freeplaymusic terms of use See 2(d) Free Student Educational Use - incompetech: Royalty-free music files.
incompetech Royalty-free Music Licenses - CC Mixter: Music remixes with Creative Commons licensing
CC Mixter Yea, But Is It Legal? - Freesound: A collaborative database of Creative Commons licensed sounds (not music).
Free Sound Terms
Search Tools and Strategies
- Compfight
- Search engine for images.
Search Tip: Be sure to turn the Creative Commons filter on. - behold.cc
- Search for images with Creative Commons licensing.
Search Tip: Use the check boxes to refine your search. - Creative Commons Search
- Cross-searches multiple sources.
Search Tip: Use the check boxes to refine your search. Use the tabs on the results page to look at various sources and options. - Google Advanced Image Search
- Includes multiple options to refine your search.
Search Tip: You must use the options under Usage Rights to find images that you are permitted to use. Select labeled for reuse or labeled for reuse with modification.