Blockchain, the driving force behind cryptocurrencies, is making significant waves in the intricate realm of Digital Publishing. This exploration delves into the applications of Blockchain, unveiling its potential to reshape the industry by addressing pervasive issues like copyright infringement, royalty distribution and piracy prevention.
What is Blockchain?
According to Tech Target, “Blockchain is a record-keeping technology designed to make it impossible to hack the system or forge the data stored on the Blockchain, thereby making it secure and immutable. It’s a type of distributed ledger technology (DLT), a digital record-keeping system for recording transactions and related data in multiple places at the same time.”
How Does Blockchain Fit in Digital Publishing?
Investopedia explains the results of a study conducted by the Global Innovation Policy Center for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce revealing the annual global online piracy costs the U.S. economy a minimum of $29.2 billion and $71 billion in lost revenue.
Blockchain technology addresses these pervasive issues common to the Digital Publishing sphere like copyright infringement and piracy prevention, through its fundamental characteristics of transparency, immutability, and decentralized consensus. This is accomplished through a process described by the UOC and explained as, “Each block is linked cryptographically with the previous one after the distributed validation, in which the rest of the network users participate, thereby circumventing costly intermediaries. The addition of new blocks usually makes it impossible to modify or delete the older ones, thus preventing manipulation.”
Blockchain also provides the transparent and tamper-resistant ledger that records every transaction related to a piece of content. Copyright information can be securely stored on the Blockchain, providing an immutable record of ownership. This helps in preventing unauthorized use or distribution of digital content, as the ownership and usage rights are verifiable and traceable.
Blockai and Ujo Music are among some companies that use Blockchain technology to register and protect copyrights today. More specifically as explained by glair. ai, “Blockai, a Blockchain-based service for writers and artists, employs time stamps to record the development of new works. Each user has a profile that controls access to certain information and manages their certificates. Once the works are uploaded, they may be traced, copyright infringements can be automatically recognized, and the owner can be notified of unauthorized access.”
Piracy prevention is bolstered by Blockchain’s ability to create a decentralized and secure distribution network. By utilizing smart contracts, content creators can establish predefined rules for access and usage, ensuring that only authorized users can access the content. This reduces the risk of piracy and unauthorized distribution.
Royalty distribution, a historically complex and opaque process, benefits from Blockchain’s transparent and automated nature. Smart contracts on the Blockchain can be programmed to automatically execute royalty payments when certain conditions are met, such as the sale or use of a piece of content. This eliminates intermediaries, reduces the risk of errors, and ensures that creators receive fair compensation for their work.
As Rolling Stone explains, “Renowned for its decentralized and secure database capabilities, Blockchain technology can facilitate the tracking and distribution of royalties with unparalleled transparency and accountability. By creating an immutable record of transactions, Blockchain could ensure that artists receive fair compensation for their work while mitigating disputes and eliminating intermediaries.”
Final Thoughts In case studies across the digital publishing landscape, successful Blockchain implementations have demonstrated increased efficiency, reduced disputes, and improved trust among stakeholders. As the technology matures and these challenges are addressed, Blockchain holds the potential to revolutionize the way digital content is managed, protected, and monetized. Blockchain stands as a powerful solution to the persistent challenges of copyright infringement and piracy prevention in the digital publishing industry.