The content available through ArcGIS Online is typically available to ArcGIS users at no cost for your personal or non-commercial use. When using specific content, you must abide by any special access and use constraints provided for that content. For example, there might be a use constraint for a map service that requires you to display copyright information on any screenshot that includes the content. Access and use constraint information is shown on the item details page.
As a content owner or publisher, you can provide access and use information to describe how the content can or cannot be used. This may include any special restrictions, disclaimers, terms and conditions, or limitations on using the content. You might also specifically define what attribution is required for use of the content.
If no access and use constraints are provided, it is assumed that there are no special restrictions or limitations on the use of the content. If you are publishing a content item based on another content item, such as publishing a map based on a map service, you should adhere to and pass along any use constraints for the content you use.
One option for describing your content's access and use constraints and simplifying use by others is to use a pre-defined license from Creative Commons, a non-profit organization that standardizes ways to grant copyright permissions to creative work. You choose the Creative Commons license that matches the rights you wish to reserve with your content and can simply reference the license type on your item properties page. For information on how to use Creative Commons for your work, see Creative Commons Attribution license information. TIP: ESRI uses Creative Commons licenses for most of its maps and data in ArcGIS Online.