What does CC0 mean? By the time you are done reading this article, hopefully that question will be answered.
Creative Commons Zero, (“CC0”) is a public domain dedication that allows creators to waive their copyright and related intellectual property rights in their works. This means that anyone can use, modify, distribute, or even sell the work without needing permission from the original creator or paying royalties.
CC0 was created by the Creative Commons organization to provide a simple and standardized way for creators to dedicate their works to the public domain. More specifically, it was created with the intent to provide an alternative to traditional copyright, which can be complicated and difficult to navigate, especially for artists that want to share their work freely.
The CC0 license is applicable to all types of creative works, including text, images, music, video, and software. CC0 allows creators to: 1) make their works available to the public without any legal restrictions, and 2) allow others to build upon their creations and create new works.
There are a few key things to keep in mind when using CC0. First, CC0 does not grant any trademark or patent rights, so creators should be careful not to infringe on these types of rights when using or modifying works. Second, even though CC0 waives copyright, it does not waive ethical and moral rights, such as the right to be attributed as the original creator of the work.
In sum, CC0 is a very powerful tool for creators who want to make their works available to the public and allow others to build upon their creations.
If you have any questions about CC0 or would like to learn how this can impact your work individually, contact Givner Law to have a conversation.
