Set the rules, and be in control.

The problem with many Flash games and animations is that they do not have any licensing information with their project. By using a free service like Creative Commons, you can set the rules for what people can do with your file. Whether it is purely public viewing or public domain, people need to know this information.

You can think of a flash license the same way you think of a driver's license. Just as you are permitted to drive your car and use it in certain ways, so does a Flash license. It lets users know how they can use the file, and what the limitations are. Some of the rules you can set:

Can the website hosting the file have ads on it?
Can people use this project in their own works?
Do people need to ask permission to use it?

Licenses will also help you become legally protected. While they do not guarantee your file protection in case it is stolen or used outside the license constraints, it does present more legal bearing in court. Specifically setting a license means much more than setting nothing at all.

Creative Commons
Creative Commons is a free licensing service, that has pre-created several licenses that you can apply towards your project. Depending on you would want people to use your file, you can define different licenses for your Flash files.

Creative Commons licenses are not a copyright, and Creative Commons recommends that you still get a copyright on your file+.  The license just tells people what they can do with the file.

What if someone violates my rights?
Creative commons licenses are made to be in-court legal documents.  While it is not 100% for sure they will hold up in court, they are definitely the cheapest and best way to go for file protection.  If you want to be guaranteed protection in court from pirating websites, you may get an official copyright.

In fact, you can even do a Creative Commons license and a copyright, so not only will you have a clear piece of evidence for your copyright, but you will also have the license agreement easily ready if court ever becomes an issue.

Does licensing hold up out of my native country?
Most of the time. When you make your license, you can make it area-sensative so that the areas that need coverage, whether universal or country-based, can be covered.

How much does it cost? How long does it take to get a license?
Creative Commons is free, which should make it a worthwhile investment for your Flash project. Also, the licenses are already made... you just need to choose the right one.

I am ready to license? Where do I go?
Visit the Creative Commons website, http://creativecommons.org/license/. The website will have several check boxes you can use to check, to determine what kind of license will be made.  Or, if you need the Flash-friendly step-by-step instructions, vist the Getting a CC License page.