🌐 Open Digital Heritage

Creative Commons & Content Licensing

How we license, preserve, and share early web content. Guidelines for researchers, developers, historians, and creators.

Our Licensing Philosophy

The 1990 Web Archive operates on the principle that early internet culture is a shared historical resource. While we preserve copyrighted material exactly as it existed, we default to Creative Commons licensing where legally appropriate, ensuring that orphaned, public domain, and author-licensed content remains accessible to all.

We do not claim ownership over archived pages. Our role is custodial: we capture, index, and provide access while respecting original rights holders. Every archived entry includes a license identifier that dictates how the content may be used.

Available License Types

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CC0 1.0

Public Domain

Content explicitly dedicated to the public domain by the original creator, or verified as public domain under applicable law.

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CC BY 4.0

Attribution Required

Most common license for recovered personal sites. Free to share and adapt commercially as long as proper credit is given.

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CC BY-NC 4.0

Non-Commercial

Applied when authors specified non-commercial use, or when content contains trademarked material intended for personal/historical use only.

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All Rights Reserved

Copyrighted

Commercial sites, corporate pages, or content with active rights holders. Preserved for historical reference; usage requires direct permission.

How to Attribute Archived Content

When using CC-licensed materials from our archive, follow the 4S Framework: Source, Snapshot, Creator, License.

Step-by-Step Attribution

  • 1
    Identify the Source Use the original URL or the archive's snapshot identifier.
  • 2
    Note the Capture Date Always include the year/date the page was archived (e.g., "Captured: 1997-08-12").
  • 3
    Credit the Original Creator If known, link to or name the author/organization. Use "Unknown Author" if orphaned.
  • 4
    State the License Link to the specific CC license deed applied to the entry.

Ready-to-Use Template

"Title of Page" by [Author/Organization], archived by 1990 Web Archive on [Date]. Original URL: [URL] License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: https://1990webarchive.org/snapshot/[ID]

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the archive claim copyright over the pages?
No. We only assert a minimal preservation license over the specific snapshot metadata, capture scripts, and rendering environment. The underlying content retains its original copyright status.
Can I use archived content for commercial projects?
Yes, if the entry is marked CC0 or CC BY 4.0. For CC BY-NC or All Rights Reserved items, you must contact the original rights holder or use the material strictly for commentary, criticism, or historical documentation under fair use principles.
What if I find content that was wrongly licensed?
We maintain a transparent correction process. Use the "Report License Issue" link on any archive entry. Our legal & archival team reviews claims within 10 business days and updates the license tag accordingly.
Do you archive dynamically generated or password-protected sites?
We only archive publicly accessible, non-authenticated content. Dynamic content is captured via static HTML snapshots where possible. Password-protected, members-only, or restricted areas are never indexed or stored.
How can I donate content to the archive?
You can submit local HTML files, CD-ROMs, or disk images via our ingestion portal. By submitting, you grant us a CC BY 4.0 license to preserve and publicly display the material, while retaining your original rights.
⚠ī¸ Legal Notice This page outlines general licensing practices and does not constitute legal advice. Creative Commons licenses are third-party legal tools. For specific commercial, legal, or academic use cases, consult a qualified attorney or the original rights holder.
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