The CC0 Party Is Growing: a16z’s “Can’t Be Evil” License Drops

The Alpha:

The crypto arm of venture capital firm a16z has released a set of public NFT licenses that can be used by anyone.
Creators can use the licenses to protect or free their intellectual property rights.
In addition, the "Can't Be Evil" licenses aim to help NFT holders understand what they can and cannot do with these NFTs.

Why it matters:

A number of high-profile NFT projects have gone CC0 in recent months. On Twitter, the movement was dubbed "CC0 summer" due to Moonbirds' shift to the new licensing agreement. Why? Based on proof Founder Kevin Rose's announcement, the hope is that opening up Moonbirds' IP rights will "enable anyone to remix work creatively for commercial purposes."[CC0] is a promise by the creator of a work that the work itself can become a credibly neutral platform — without restraint or the fear of restriction or creative limitations.”

What does a16z's gesture have to do with this? A substantial portion of Proof's $50 million raise came from the venture capital firm. The investment shows a16z's alignment with Proof's goal of using CC0 to empower creators and collectors. The question is, how?

What’s next:

In the future, NFT creators and collectors alike may be able to skip the legal literacy needed to plan what they hope to do with their newly created - or acquired - NFTs thanks to a16z's "Can't Be Evil" licenses. According to a16z's blog post, U.S. copyright laws can be prohibitively restrictive. No copyrights are automatically granted when you purchase a piece of art, regardless of whether it is physical or digital. A new owner of a piece of art might not be able to display their shiny new artwork without proper rights being conferred to them. It is possible that the "Can't Be Evil" licenses, implemented on the blockchain and accessible through GitHub smart contracts, could change all of that.

Smart contracts embed these rights into NFTs, preventing license changes after the fact. Thieves won't automatically gain access to NFTs if smart contracts incorporate "Can't Be Evil" licenses. By ensuring that the licensed rights do not pass to anyone who unlawfully acquires NFTs, the licenses aim to minimize the burden of theft on NFT holders.

Does this mean that new NFT creators should integrate the new licenses into their upcoming projects? No, not exactly. A16z hopes this move will encourage users to take a closer look at the legal aspects of NFT. They hope that these licenses will foster a trustless NFT licensing ecosystem and encourage greater standardization as the industry grows. They may be right, so let's hope so.

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