---
title: Public Statement of Use: The Spirit of Own The Dot
author: Handshake Australia
date: 2026-08-23
description: A public declaration of use and intent for the Own The Dot initiative, protecting community integrity under CC0 1.0 Universal.
image: /assets/img/scenery/Handshake.png
tags: CC0, Community, Statement
---

# Public Statement of Use: The Spirit of #OwnTheDot

Handshake Australia is a non-profit initiative promoting open, decentralised naming and online identity free from central control.

Our Tagline — **“Own The Dot”** — reflects the spirit of digital freedom, self-sovereignty, and empowerment that defines our community. It symbolises the belief that everyone should have the right to their own digital identity, independent of centralised systems.

---

## Community Declaration

We use **“Own The Dot”** to identify and promote our mission across educational, community, and awareness platforms. The tagline is not trademarked or owned by any individual or organisation.

We welcome others to share and use “Own The Dot” in good faith, provided that:

1. **Non-commercial usage**: It is not used for commercial gain or misrepresentation,
2. **Decentralized values**: It respects the open and decentralised values of the Handshake ecosystem, and
3. **Attribution**: Acknowledgment is given to Handshake Australia as the originator of the tagline.

This statement serves as a public declaration of use and intent, protecting the integrity of the tagline while keeping it open to the community it was created for.

Together, we uphold the belief that true ownership online begins with freedom — to build, share, and connect on your own terms.

---

## CC0 1.0 Universal

> **OWN THE DOT** by ERWIN GROEN is marked **CC0 1.0 Universal**.  
> To view a copy of this mark, visit [https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)