A proposed licensing model for digital art in which the artist reduces a work to a single, unique physical (analog) copy and permanently removes all digital versions — creating provable scarcity for collectors and a new way for artists to sell and protect their work.
Status: Concept / proposal. This repository is a written specification of the licensing idea, not software. It is offered as a starting point for discussion and adoption, not as legal advice.
Digital files are infinitely copyable, which makes true scarcity hard to guarantee. The AnalogOnly License addresses this by having the artist commit, under the license, to:
- Create a physical (analog) copy of the artwork.
- Permanently delete all digital copies — including cloud storage and local files.
- Ensure that only the single physical copy exists.
The result is a work whose uniqueness is guaranteed by the absence of any surviving digital original.
The license is designed to:
- Enhance professionalism for digital artists by offering a new, structured way to protect and sell work.
- Create security for buyers by guaranteeing that only a single analog copy of the artwork exists.
- Stimulate the art market so that works protected under the license can hold and grow their value in future sales.
Artists — Protect your work and build credibility by offering buyers a unique, physical representation of the piece, and adopt a standard aimed at increasing its long-term value.
Buyers / Collectors — Gain the assurance that you own the only existing copy of the artwork, and invest in art protected by a model built around scarcity and provenance.
Community — Help refine and spread the standard through social media, blogs, and art forums.
This is an early-stage concept authored by Cornelii Sandberg. It describes the intent and terms of the licensing model in plain language. It has not been reviewed as a formal legal instrument, and it does not constitute legal advice. Adopters should seek their own legal counsel before relying on it in a transaction.
Questions about the content of the license are welcome. Please note that the author only answers questions regarding the content of the license and takes no responsibility for legal disputes or financial damages between third parties.
Cornelii Sandberg · corresandberg@gmail.com · https://www.linkedin.com/in/cornelii
© Cornelii Sandberg. "AnalogOnly License" and "AOL" refer to the model described in this repository.