# Is CC BY-NC OK for YouTube?

**Short answer:** Monetized or sponsored video: No. Non-commercial video, adapted, with credit: Yes.

CC BY-NC 4.0 allows sharing and adapting with credit, for non-commercial purposes only. A monetized channel or sponsored video is a commercial use.

## Monetized or sponsored video — 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 video, adapted, with credit — 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
- Whether a particular channel is "non-commercial" can be a judgment call; when in doubt, ask the rights holder for permission.

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

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

_Computed from Rightshold's license profiles; not legal advice. Updated 2026-10-19. JSON: https://www.rightshold.com/answers/is-cc-by-nc-ok-for-youtube.json_