# Can I use CC BY-NC content in a commercial product?

**Short answer:** Use in a commercial product: No. Non-commercial adaptation and sharing: Yes.

CC BY-NC 4.0 allows sharing and adapting only for purposes not primarily intended for commercial advantage.

## Use in a commercial product — No

License: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode) (`CC-BY-NC-4.0`, curated)

- CC BY-NC 4.0 prohibits commercial_use.

Duties: attribution, license_notice, state_changes, no_additional_restrictions
## Non-commercial adaptation and sharing — Yes

License: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode) (`CC-BY-NC-4.0`, curated)

- Every use you described is granted by CC BY-NC 4.0, and nothing you described is prohibited.

Duties: attribution, license_notice, state_changes, no_additional_restrictions

## Context
- For commercial use you need a separate license from the rights holder; the NC license itself cannot grant it.

## Sources
- [CC BY-NC 4.0 legal code](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/legalcode)

## Check it yourself (free, no key)
```json
{
  "tool": "check_license",
  "arguments": {
    "license": "CC-BY-NC-4.0",
    "intended_use": {
      "commercial_use": true
    }
  }
}
```
REST: POST https://www.rightshold.com/v1/licenses/check

_Computed from Rightshold's license profiles; not legal advice. Updated 2026-10-23. JSON: https://www.rightshold.com/answers/can-i-use-cc-by-nc-content-in-a-commercial-product.json_