Attribution and Copyright Standards
Open Learning course materials frequently incorporate openly licensed, public domain, and permissioned resources. Editors play an important quality assurance role by ensuring attribution information is complete, accurate, and consistently presented.
Editors are not responsible for determining copyright permissions but should identify missing or inconsistent attribution information.
When Attribution Is Required
Attribution should accompany:
- openly licensed resources
- Creative Commons licensed materials
- adapted works
- figures
- tables
- photographs
- illustrations
- diagrams
- videos
- audio recordings
- external learning objects
Creative Commons Attribution
Whenever possible, attributions should include the TASL elements:
- Title
- Author
- Source
- Licence
Example:
Introduction to Sociology by OpenStax, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
For adapted materials:
Adapted from Introduction to Sociology by OpenStax, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Figures and Images
Editors should verify that figure credits:
- match the source information
- include licence information where appropriate
- identify adaptations
- remain consistent throughout the course
Adobe Stock images
Most of our IDs have a paid education license access to Adobe Stock images. That Adobe license has attribution requirements. Here’s a recent example of how we’ve attributed those images:
Caption:
Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding Latch by Gegambar on stock.adobe.com
Citation:
Gegambar. (n.d.). The process of perfect baby breastfeeding latch [Stock image]. Adobe Stock. https://stock.adobe.com/images/the-process-of-perfect-baby-breastfeeding-latch/505615223?prev_url=detail
Adapted Content
When material has been modified, attribution should indicate the work has been adapted.
Examples include:
- Adapted from…
- Modified from…
- Based on…
The wording should accurately reflect the extent of the changes.
Public Domain
Public domain resources should be identified as such when appropriate.
Example:
Public domain image courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Permissioned Material
Permissioned resources should use the wording approved by the Copyright team.
Editors should not alter approved permission statements without consultation.
References vs Attributions
References and attributions serve different purposes.
- References acknowledge information sources cited in the text.
- Attributions satisfy licence requirements for reused content.
Some resources require both.
Attribution Checklist
Before final review, editors should confirm:
✓ Images include attribution where required
✓ Creative Commons licences are accurately stated
✓ Adaptations are identified
✓ Figure credits are complete
✓ Missing attributions have been flagged
✓ References and attributions are not being used interchangeably
Attribution and Disclosure
When generative AI has contributed to the development of course materials or other published content beyond routine editorial assistance, its use should be transparently acknowledged.
Editors should follow the current guidance provided by the University of British Columbia Library for citing and acknowledging generative AI tools.
UBC Generative AI Citation Guide
How to Cite – Generative AI (University of British Columbia Library)
Because guidance continues to evolve, editors should refer to the UBC resource rather than relying on static examples in this guide.
Examples:
Caption:
Figure 5.2: Small campfire vs. large campfire. (OpenAI, 2025)
Citation:
OpenAI. (2025). Small fire vs. big fire illustration [Digital illustration]. ChatGPT. https://chat.openai.com/
Verification
Generative AI may produce inaccurate, incomplete, or fabricated information, including incorrect citations and references. Editors must:
- verify all factual information against reliable sources
- confirm that all references and DOIs are accurate
- ensure quotations accurately reflect the original source
- review all AI-generated wording for accuracy, clarity, accessibility, and bias
- never treat AI-generated content as an authoritative source
AI should be considered an editorial support tool rather than a source of evidence.