ODbL 1.0 vs CC BY 4.0: what is the difference?

Short answer: ODbL 1.0: commercial use, modification, redistribution: Yes. CC BY 4.0: the same uses: Yes.

ODbL 1.0: Use, share and adapt the database for any purpose; credit the source, keep adapted databases you publicly use open under the ODbL, and do not lock them away with technical measures without an open copy. CC BY 4.0: Share and adapt the material for any purpose, including commercially, as long as you give credit, link the license and say if you changed it.

ODbL 1.0: commercial use, modification, redistribution: Yes

License: Open Data Commons Open Database License v1.0 (ODbL-1.0, curated)

• Every use you described is granted by ODbL 1.0, and nothing you described is prohibited.

Duties: attribution, license_notice, share_alike, keep_open

CC BY 4.0: the same uses: Yes

License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0, curated)

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

Duties: attribution, license_notice, state_changes, no_additional_restrictions

Duties and notes compared

• ODbL-1.0: duties attribution, license_notice, share_alike, keep_open. Covers the database; contents may carry their own rights (section 2.1). Sublicensing is prohibited: each recipient receives a license directly from the licensor (section 4.8).
• CC-BY-4.0: duties attribution, license_notice, state_changes, no_additional_restrictions. The grant is non-sublicensable: every recipient receives the license directly from the licensor (section 2(a)(5)). You may not apply legal terms or technical measures that restrict recipients from exercising the licensed rights (section 2(a)(5)(C)).

Combined in one work: compatible.

Context

• The duties differ: compare the duties and notes listed for each license below.

Sources

• Open Data Commons Open Database License v1.0: official text
• ODbL-1.0 on the SPDX License List
• Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International: official text
• CC-BY-4.0 on the SPDX License List

Check it yourself (free, no key)

{
  "tool": "check_license",
  "arguments": {
    "license": "ODbL-1.0",
    "intended_use": {
      "commercial_use": true,
      "modification": true,
      "redistribution": true
    }
  }
}

Computed from Rightshold's license profiles; not legal advice. Updated 2026-10-19. JSON · Markdown