What is a cc0 NFT?

So you wonder what a cc0 NFT is? Well, cc0 NFTs are massively popular lately, being the open and transparent side of the brand loved by decentralization maxis. Projects like CrypToadz, Blitmaps, and Mfers all feature “Creative Commons Zero” artwork. But what does cc0 mean? And what is the link with NFT IP commercial rights?

Usually people think that just because you hit an NFT, all you get is the picture. However, some NFTs are not so simple. While some offer the license of intellectual property (IP) rights, others don’t give the owners anything at all.

Obviously, it is important to know your rights with NFTs. So let’s start with the most popular rights behind NFTs today, cc0 rights and what they mean in the NFT scene.

What does cc0 mean?

The term cc0 stands for “Creative Commons Zero”. Basically, this means that the owners of the intellectual property (intellectual property rights) waive all copyright and other rights in the public domain. In other words, anyone can use cc0 elements for almost anything they want. Cc0 rights allow anyone to use the IP to create their own content.

What is a cc0 NFT?

A cc0 NFT is an item of digital content whose intellectual property rights have been waived. In short, anyone can replicate an NFT cc0. Even non-holders can create commercial goods from cc0 NFTs without legal repercussions.

Also, with a cc0 NFT, you don’t have to attribute the original creator if you were to use it.

For example, flagship project Goblintown grants full cc0 rights to its works.

Cc0 Vs. Commercial Intellectual Property Rights: Which Is Better?

Of course, cc0 NFTs have their pros and cons. However, most advantages can also become disadvantages. Essentially, it all depends on your perspective on the matter.

When you own a cc0 NFT, you can market this work as you wish. You do not need to ask the project owner or the artist for permission to use the NFT.

On the other hand, anyone else can also use it. The IP address is in the public domain, which means that someone who registered your NFT with the right mouse button has as much right as you. Yes, even a complete stranger to collecting could use their branding for their own business.

Next, cc0 NFT project leaders have no control over their brand image. This is because literally ANYBODY can use likeness in any way, shape or form.

In comparison, full commercial intellectual property rights only allow the holder to use the likeness of this NFT. This opens up a whole range of options for licensing intellectual property to others. A good example of this is the Bored Ape Yacht Club. Basically, the BAYC offers commercial rights, with many monkeys licensing their NFT IP for music videos, movies, TV shows, and fashion. This is part of the freedom that comes with owning all intellectual property rights.

Examples of successful cc0 NFTs

goblintown

Some say it’s ugly, others praise it for its uniqueness. Either way, Goblintown has been making waves among NFT collectors. The 10K avatar NFTs are all cc0, allowing holders to trade them in any way. In this case, having a Goblintown NFT registered under a Creative Commons license can be invaluable. As for the design, these collectibles definitely stand out.

In fact, the controversial project has redefined the concept of beauty in the NFT sphere. The floor price for the collection is 1.9 ETH with many NFT whales endorsing the project. Amazingly, Steve Aoki even hosted a Goblintown NFT NYC party this summer.

Booty

No avatars, no images and no stats – just white text on a black background. As simple as it sounds, Loot has redefined how the community interacts with its NFTs. Basically, each of the 8K NFTs is a “loot bag” full of railings.

Since these digital assets are cc0, anyone can use them for their own project. From P2E games to innovative scarcity exploration tools, this project fueled the creativity of developers. Today, the floor price of a Loot NFT is 1.03 ETH – an impressive achievement considering the mint was free at launch. If you want to learn all about the complex loot ecosystem, check out our article here.

Mfers

Few projects represent meme culture better than Mfers. This hand-drawn project consists of 10K avatar-style NFTs created by none other than Sartoshi. In short, many in the NFT community believe that Sartoshi is one of the top meme creators on NFT Twitter.

As simple as they may seem, digital stickmen took over the market soon after their launch. Today you can buy one Mfers NFT at the floor price of 1.18 ETH. However, some of the rarest coins sold for 11 ETH, skyrocketing this cc0 project in popularity.

Names: the most successful cc0 project

Looking for a cc0 NFT project featured in a Super Bowl commercial? Then names are the answer. Be careful though because these pixelated avatars have a floor price of just 99 ETH. In fact, it is undoubtedly one of the most successful cc0 projects to date.

Unlike most NFT collections, Nouns does not have a number of NFTs. Instead, NounsDAO auctions a new digital asset every day; the team’s plan is to continue this process “forever”. Therefore, NounsDAO (co-governed by all NFT holders) has one of the greatest treasures in the NFT sphere.

Is it summer cc0?

The short answer is “maybe”. This year we have seen more and more cc0 NFT projects skyrocket in popularity. Collectors, game developers, and artists all value the freedom to use their NFTs as they see fit.

A look at the most popular projects of the summer also proves this. For example, Goblintown — a project with no roadmap or utility — went from a free mint to sales of over $130,000. Their Twitter community has over 124.5,000 followers who continue to support the odd collection. Even in the bear market, this new project is prospering impressively!

Are there any plans to switch to cc0 NFTs?

This achievement has inspired other NFT creators to move to cc0 as well. For example, prolific digital artist XCOPY announced that all of their NFTs would become cc0. As holders receive the intellectual property rights for each piece, this means that XCOPY artworks will inspire many other emerging artists and projects.

However, no all project turning to cc0 was well received. One of the latest examples is Moonbirds. This week, the popular project canceled its commercial NFT rights for cc0. Unfortunately, the team immediately received backlash from members of their own community.

As a result, the move to cc0 goes against Moonbirds’ original promises to coiners. Nevertheless, their decision is legal, despite the disapproval of the community.

To conclude, we will probably see more cc0 NFT projects in the near future. The new trend facilitates NFT distribution by allowing holders to use digital assets as they see fit. Some of the most successful projects on the market offer cc0 collectibles, which has convinced top artists to embrace the change as well.