The Third-Party Web Resources Guide is a collection of information to supplement the Yale community’s search for digital content available online for free or at low cost. Under each resource, you will find a website link, a description of the offerings, content pricing, and an overview of the permissions, if any, associated with using the materials. Please note that some content, especially music, may include additional terms of use. You should read these terms carefully and contact the Office of the General Counsel should you have any questions or concerns. You are encouraged to explore the Web for additional resources, as those cited here may change or become obsolete. The resources cited here are not endorsed by Yale nor does the University claim any liability for their use.
Below please find several key terms to assist you in using this guide:
- Permissions – What the third-party website, or rights-holder, allows you, the user, to do with the content (i.e., copy, distribute, sell, or create derivative works).
- Micropayment – A small fee or subscription charged to users in exchange for access to content.
- Creative Commons – A collection of alternative licenses for content creators that restricts only some (or none) of the rights associated with traditional copyright. The type of CC license that is attached to a work, typically indicated by a “Licensed Under Creative Commons” graphic, indicates what you are permitted to do with the content. Under the CC system, as long as you follow the license guidelines, it is unnecessary to contact the rights-holder directly for permission to use the material.
- Free for Non-Commercial Use – You are permitted to use the content freely, but sometimes with the expectation that you will publicize or attribute the source of the work. Please note that Web sites offering free images are NOT placing those works in the public domain. The content owner retains the right to commercialize the work or otherwise restrict its use.
- Royalty-free – The site charges users a one-time fee or subscription that permits use of the royalty-free media, such as stock photography, music, or graphics, in a publication in accordance with the terms of use. No additional fees are required for further use of the media. Music providers such as iTunes are not considered royalty-free sites because your one-time fee for the content restricts you to personal use only.
- Rights-ready – A licensing model that charges users a fixed price based on categories encompassing how the content will be used. Rights-ready can be more expensive and restrictive than royalty-free models but still more cost-effective than the process of clearing rights on a use-by-use basis. Typically, there are no quantity or territory limits for rights-ready content as long as the use falls within the selected category.
- Public Domain Works – Knowledge and innovation, especially creative works such as writing, art, music, and inventions, which is available as a common good for free use by all whether for commercial or non-commercial purposes. When a work’s patent or copyright restrictions expire (as determined by statute), it is said to enter into the public domain. It is important to note that certain additional proprietary rights may be embedded within a public domain work. It may be necessary to secure some rights to use or exploit the work. For example, for musical work in the public domain, users should be certain that the sound recording of the piece is also unrestricted. For educators searching for free or low-cost musical works, the least complicated route to legal use may be to search for music created under Creative Commons licenses or to purchase royalty-free music.