What Are Some Other Options?
Creative Commons is a non-profit organization that works to increase the amount of scholarly works (cultural, educational, and scientific content) in "the commons" — the body of work that is available to the public for free and legal sharing, use, repurposing, and remixing. Creative Commons licenses are not an alternative to copyright, instead they work alongside copyright, allowing authors/creators to modify their copyright terms to best suit their needs. Creative Commons defines the spectrum of possibilities between full copyright and the public domain.
As a user of a copyrighted work, a Creative Commons license spells out what you need to do in order to use a work without necessarily having to contact the copyright holder. The Creative Commons website can be used to find a variety of services that can help you find items with a creative commons license.