CC0 Explained: What Public Domain NFT Art Means

All ANON NFT artwork is released under CC0. You will see those three characters on our collection pages, in our merch descriptions and on our Disclosures page. This guide explains what CC0 actually is, where it comes from, what it lets people do, what it does not cover, and why we chose it.

Who created CC0?

CC0 was created by Creative Commons, a non-profit organisation that writes free, standard licences so creators can share their work on clear terms. You have probably seen Creative Commons licences on photos, music and articles across the web.

The full name of the tool is CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Creative Commons publishes it, with a plain-English summary, at creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

What does CC0 mean?

CC0 is sometimes called "no rights reserved". When a creator applies CC0 to a work, they give up all their copyright and related rights in it, worldwide, as far as the law allows. In simple terms, they place the work in the public domain.

Some countries do not allow creators to fully give up their rights. CC0 deals with this by including a back-up: where the waiver cannot work, it acts as a very broad, unconditional licence instead. Either way, the result is meant to be the same. People can use the work freely.

What can you do with CC0 art?

According to Creative Commons' own summary, you can copy, modify, distribute and perform a CC0 work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

For ANON artwork, that means you could, for example:

- Share our artwork on social media, in videos or on your own website.

- Remix it, recolour it or build new art from it.

- Print it on a T-shirt, poster or mug.

- Use it in a game, a comic, a presentation or a school project.

- Use it in your own commercial project.

You do not need to ask us first, and you do not need to pay us. Credit is not legally required under CC0, although we always appreciate a mention of ANON NFTs if you are happy to give one.

What CC0 does not do

CC0 is generous, but it has limits. Creative Commons is clear about these:

1. It does not affect trademark or patent rights. CC0 covers copyright in the artwork. It does not give anyone the right to use a name or logo as a trademark, or to present themselves as the original project.

2. It does not cover other people's rights. Things like privacy or publicity rights, which control how a person's image or likeness is used, are separate and can still apply.

3. It comes with no warranties. Unless stated otherwise, the person who applied CC0 makes no promises about the work and does not accept liability for how others use it.

4. It does not mean endorsement. When you use or credit a CC0 work, you should not suggest that the original creator endorses you or your project.

What CC0 means for NFT holders

This is the part that surprises people. If you hold an ANON NFT, you own that token on the blockchain. The token is the unique, on-chain record of ownership, and it is linked to a piece of art.

Because the art is CC0, owning the NFT does not give you exclusive rights to the image. Anyone can use the image, including you. What makes your NFT yours is the token itself: its place in the collection, its on-chain history and the liquidity held against it on the Liquid NFT Marketplace.

Think of it like a famous public domain painting. Anyone can print a copy of it, but only one person owns the original canvas. With CC0 NFTs, the image is free for everyone, and the token is the "original".

Why did ANON choose CC0?

There are a few reasons.

- Openness. ANON is built around transparency. Making the art open fits the same idea as publishing a public record of our work.

- Reach. When art is free to use, it can travel further. A remix, a meme or a fan design can introduce new people to the collections.

- Clarity. CC0 removes grey areas. Nobody needs to wonder whether they are allowed to share or use the art.

- Community. Holders and fans can build their own creations around ANON without asking permission.

CC0 is also common in the wider NFT world. A number of well-known projects have chosen it for similar reasons, because it encourages people to build on the work rather than simply look at it.

What about our merch?

ANON designs appear on our Redbubble merch shop. Because the art is CC0, other people are also free to make their own products from it. We think that is fine. Our own merch is simply an easy way to get official ANON designs.

What about the rest of the website?

CC0 applies to ANON NFT artwork. It does not automatically apply to everything else, such as our website text or the ANON name and logo. If you want to use something that is not NFT artwork, just email us at anonnfts@outlook.com and ask.

A quick checklist before you use ANON art

- Is it ANON NFT artwork? If so, it is CC0.

- Are you avoiding any suggestion that ANON endorses your project? You should.

- Are you using the ANON name or logo as if you were the official project? Do not.

- Does the use involve another person's image or likeness? Check those rights separately.

This guide is a general summary, not legal advice. For the exact legal wording, read the CC0 1.0 Universal legal code on the Creative Commons website.

Where to go next

- Browse the artwork on our Anon Collections page.

- Find our merch and channels on the Media & Articles page.

- Learn more about us on the About ANON NFTs page.

- Read how ownership and backing fit together in What Is Liquidity Backing?

Important: This guide is for general information only and is not financial advice. NFTs and cryptoassets are high risk. Resale prices can fall below what you paid, and liquidity backing does not guarantee any resale price, redemption amount or return. Figures are correct at the time of writing; check the Proof of Work page and on-chain.