Creative Commons

Its home page/website can be found here: https://creativecommons.org/

You can search its image collection here: https://search.creativecommons.org/

Its rights and usage statement can be found here: https://creativecommons.org/about/cclicenses/

Creative Commons is the mother of all open-access websites, containing a wealth of digital material that purports to be copyright free.  However, its licenses vary in terms of usage, including images that are restricted to non-commercial use and “share-and-share-alike” licenses (that dictate that any new material created using Creative Commons imagery must be shared under the same license terms) being two of the most common.  Also, many authors don’t realize that images posted on Creative Common tend to be low resolution, so can be used on webpages and blogs but not in print publications that require better quality imagery.  Creative Commons is both a repository of open-access material and a set of legal guidelines or licenses that individuals may apply to their work if they wish to make it available to the public.