Zero-Clause License
A Zero-Clause License, sometimes referred to as the "Zero License," is a type of license that enables authors to forfeit all copyright protection for their work in countries that recognize these waivers. This effectively places the work into the public domain. Two popular examples of such licenses are Creative Commons Zero and the Unlicense, primarily used for artistic works and software, respectively.
While they may appear to be counterproductive, Zero Licenses hold significance when a creator does not wish for anyone to have exclusive rights over their creations. Both Zero Licenses and public domain in general grant equal derivative, redistribution, and commercial rights to everyone, thus preventing the establishment of a monopoly by an individual or entity. These licenses were developed as an effort to address copyright's "life+X" protection period, allowing creators the option to opt-out during their lifetime.
Usage
[edit | edit source]Caseyverse
[edit | edit source]Tony Bark initially had doubts about using any Zero License for his work in both media and with the Caseyverse as a whole. His primary reason for using it was due to the lack of resources available to enforce copyright on all of his artwork. It wasn't until Tony realized that if everyone had equal rights to his creations, no one would have exclusive control over them. This effectively canceled out any potential attempts by a single person or entity to monopolize his work. In theory, this approach would prevent a hypothetical greedy publisher from dictating terms if such an offer were ever made.