Platform Guide - Licensing & Attribution

Licensing & Attribution

Respecting Creators with Commercial-Friendly Licenses

All aggregated content uses commercial-friendly open licenses (CC-BY, CC-BY-SA, GNU GPL, CC0). Learn how we credit creators, what each license allows, and how to properly attribute parts you use.

How We Surface Attribution

Creator Profiles

Every part displays the original creator's name with direct links to their profile

Source Links

Direct links to the original source page (Thingiverse, etc.) are always provided

License Badges

Clear license badges show the specific Creative Commons license on every part card

Platform Badges

Aggregated content displays "Thingiverse · [License]" badges on images

Understanding Licenses

CC BY

Creative Commons Attribution

Free to use for any purpose, including commercial, with attribution

You can:• Download and print• Modify and remix the design• Sell prints• Use commercially

You cannot:• Remove or hide attribution

CC BY-SA

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike

Free to use with attribution; remixes must use the same license

You can:• Download and print• Modify and remix• Use commercially with attribution

You cannot:• Change the license on derivatives• Remove attribution

GNU GPL

GNU General Public License

Free to use, modify, and distribute; derivatives must also be open source

You can:• Download and print• Modify and remix• Distribute freely• Use commercially

You cannot:• Make derivatives closed-source• Distribute without source files

CC0 / Public Domain

Creative Commons Zero / Public Domain

No restrictions - use however you want

You can:• Everything• No attribution required• Commercial use

You cannot:• Nothing is restricted

CC BY-NC (aggregated)

Creative Commons NonCommercial

Not allowed on 3DCarParts - restricts commercial use

Why excluded:• Sell prints• Use commercially• Included in aggregated library

Thingiverse Aggregation

We aggregate automotive-related 3D models from Thingiverse through their public API, creating a specialized discovery layer for car enthusiasts. We only include content with commercial-friendly licenses (CC-BY, CC-BY-SA, GNU GPL, CC0) and provide full attribution.

Only CC-BY, CC-BY-SA, GNU GPL, and CC0 licensed content is aggregated (NC and ND licenses are excluded)
All content is freely accessible - browse, search, and use our 3D viewer without login
Creator name and direct profile link displayed prominently on every part
"Thingiverse · [License]" badges clearly mark all aggregated content
Direct links to original Thingiverse model pages are always provided
Creators can request removal at any time via our content removal form

For Thingiverse creators: Your work is always credited with your name, profile link, and a direct link to your original upload. Request changes or removal anytime via our content removal form or email api@3dcarparts.org.

Attribution Best Practices

Check the license badge on each part for specific requirements
Include creator name and source link when sharing prints or remixes online
CC-BY-SA remixes must use the same license - keep license info intact
Link back to original Thingiverse page when sharing aggregated content
Report any parts with missing or incorrect attribution

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I credit a part I downloaded?

When sharing prints or remixes, include the creator's name and a link to the original part page. For example: "Based on [Part Name] by [Creator] on 3DCarParts.org"

What if I find my work here without permission?

Use our content removal form at 3dcarparts.org/content-removal or email api@3dcarparts.org. We honor all creator preferences and process removal requests within 48 hours.

Can I remix or modify parts?

Yes, all licenses on our platform allow modifications. CC-BY-SA requires your remix to use the same license. Always credit the original creator.

Why do some parts have "Thingiverse" badges?

These parts are aggregated from Thingiverse via their public API. We only include automotive-relevant content with commercial-friendly licenses, and always display full attribution with links to the original creator and source.

How do I get attribution for my uploads?

When you upload a part, your username and profile are automatically linked. You can also add links to your personal website or social media in your profile.

Can creators opt out of aggregation?

Yes. Creators can request removal of their content at any time, even if properly licensed. Contact api@3dcarparts.org to be added to our exclusion list for future aggregations.

Questions About Attribution?

If you have concerns about attribution or licensing, we're here to help.