← VCE Data Analysis

Acknowledging sources and copyright

The legal protection on other people's images, text and music. You need permission or a licence to use them, and you must say where they came from.

Understanding Acknowledging sources and copyright in VCE Data Analysis

What it does: This listing gives the author, date, title and URL, so a reader can find the original image and see who made it. Filtering by usage rights shows images that creators have shared under a Creative Commons licence, so you are more likely to be allowed to reuse them. Being online does not make something free to use. Images, text and music are protected by copyright, so you need permission or a licence.

Common mistakes: Google Images is a search engine, not the creator. The author line should name the person who made the picture, such as Mia Chen. Creative Commons images are free to reuse, but most licences still say you must credit the creator. Line 4 should be 'Credit the creator'.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 56–67) and word search (Modules 56–80).

Take this worksheet further — free with Cloodit

Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning
Duo
You find a cool photo on Google Images and want to use it in your class slideshow. What should you do first?
Just use it, because it is on the internet so it is free for everyoneCheck who made it and whether you have permission or a licence to use it
Matches
Source: I found it on Google Images
↓
This does not name the author, title, date or URL, so nobody can find the original or see who made it. Fix it by listing all four details.
Applying
Meanings
Term
copyright
Meaning
The legal protection on other people's images, text and music. You need permission or a licence to use them, and you must say where they came from.
Practice
Title: Koala in a Gum Tree
Testing
Gaps
: 4 May 2023
Check Answer
Spots
1Title: Sunset at Bondi
2Author: Google Images

Cloodit turns curriculum-aligned coding content into journeys students work through one biome at a time.

The 'Clownfish' badge — Reef Rookie, one of Cloodit's 106 collectible badges
Students earn collectable badges

Over 100 of them, across seven natural biomes.

Study Buddy
Students build a real study resource

Turns their work into revision material ready for Flash Cards and Exam study.

Diamond Dash — one of Cloodit's live, competitive Sprint games
Students lock in with Sprints

Live, competitive practice for the start of the lesson or a teacher-led lesson finisher.

A Cloodit certificate of achievement, ready to personalise and print
Custom printable certificates

Honour your top performers, or encourage a student who's trying hard — ready to print in seconds.

Quick Questions

1. You find a cool photo on Google Images and want to use it in your class slideshow. What should you do first?
A. Check who made it and whether you have permission or a licence to use it ✓
B. Just use it, because it is on the internet so it is free for everyone
Being online does not make something free to use. Images, text and music are protected by copyright, so you need permission or a licence.
2. Which one is a Creative Commons licence?
A. A password that lets you download any file you like
B. A licence that tells you how you are allowed to reuse someone's work ✓
Creative Commons licences are clear permissions from the creator. They say how others can reuse the work, for example with credit given.
3. Which source list has the details a reference needs?
A. Author, title, date and URL ✓
B. Just the word 'internet'
A good source lists the author, title, date and URL so readers can find the original and the creator gets credit.
4. You use a photo that has a Creative Commons licence in your project. What do you still need to do?
A. Give credit to the creator and follow the licence rules ✓
B. Nothing, because a licence means you never have to mention the creator
Most Creative Commons licences still require you to say who made the work. Always read the licence rules.
5. Which is the best way to find images you can legally reuse?
A. Search for any image and save the first one you see
B. Use the search tool's usage rights or licence filter, such as 'Creative Commons licences' ✓
Many search tools and image sites let you filter by licence, so you only see images that are marked as reusable.

Match the Pairs

CC BY → A Creative Commons licence that lets you reuse the work if you credit the creator
© 2024 Mia Chen → A copyright notice showing Mia Chen owns the work, so you need permission or a licence to use it
A correct source listing includes the author, title, date and URL → Chen, M. (2024). Sunset at Torquay [photo]. https://example.com/sunset
To find images you are allowed to reuse, search with a licence filter → Search tools > Usage rights > Creative Commons licences
Source: I found it on Google Images → This does not name the author, title, date or URL, so nobody can find the original or see who made it. Fix it by listing all four details.
Any image online is free to use for my project → Images online are usually protected by copyright. You need permission or a reusable licence, such as Creative Commons, and you must credit the source.

Key Term

copyright
The legal protection on other people's images, text and music. You need permission or a licence to use them, and you must say where they came from.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Author: Mia Chen Title: Beach Sunset Date: 4 May 2023
Hint: Type the label for when the work was published.
2. CC BY means you must credit the creator
Hint: Type the two-letter code in a Creative Commons licence that means attribution.
3. CC BY-NC means no commercial use
Hint: Type the two letters that mean non-commercial.
4. Tools > Usage rights > Creative Commons
Hint: Type the filter menu name used to find images you may reuse.
5. Author: Mia Chen Title: Beach Sunset URL: https://example.com/sunset
Hint: Type the label for the web address where you found the work.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Title: Sunset at Bondi
B Author: Google Images
C Date: 12 March 2023
D URL: example.com/sunset
Line B — Google Images is a search engine, not the creator. The author line should name the person who made the picture, such as Mia Chen.
Question 2
A 1. Open image search
B 2. Click Tools > Usage Rights
C 3. Choose Creative Commons
D 4. No need to credit creator
Line D — Creative Commons images are free to reuse, but most licences still say you must credit the creator. Line 4 should be 'Credit the creator'.
Question 3
A CC BY = credit the creator
B CC BY-NC = you can sell it
C CC BY-ND = no changes allowed
Line B — NC means NonCommercial. You cannot use the work to make money. The line should say 'no commercial use'.
Question 4
A Photo: by me, 'Reef', 2022
B Licence: CC BY 4.0
C Source: example.org/reef
Line A — This claims someone else's photo as your own. The credit should name the real photographer, Sam Lee.
Question 5
A song = 'Rise Up' by Kai
B licence = 'CC BY'
C if song is on the internet:
D add credit to video
Line C — Being online does not make a song free to use. You must check that the licence allows reuse, so the condition should be 'if licence allows reuse:'.

Student with a class code? Join your class →