Kodak and
WENN Digital, in a licensing partnership, have announced the launch of the KODAKOne image rights management platform utilizing blockchain technology and KODAKCoin, a photo-centric cryptocurrency to empower photographers and agencies to take greater control in image rights management.
The KODAKOne platform will create an encrypted, digital ledger of rights ownership for photographers to register both new and archive work that they can then license within the platform. With KODAKCoin, participating photographers are invited to take part in a new economy for photography, receive payment for licensing their work immediately upon sale, and for both professional and amateur photographers, sell their work confidently on a secure blockchain platform. KODAKOne platform provides continual web crawling in order to monitor and protect the IP of the images registered in the KODAKOne system. Where unlicensed usage of images is detected, the KODAKOne platform can efficiently manage the post-licensing process in order to reward photographers.
Kodak CEO Jeff Clarke said, “For many in the tech industry, ‘blockchain’ and ‘cryptocurrency’ are hot buzzwords, but for photographers who’ve long struggled to assert control over their work and how it’s used, these buzzwords are the keys to solving what felt like an unsolvable problem.”
Kodak says the platform will offer:
1 -
Image Registration – Provides immutable proof of ownership and enables member to take advantage of the platforms wider services.
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Rights Management – Every license is documented by a smart contract on the blockchain which confirms the copyrights and licensing terms and conditions of the associated images.
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Transparent Accounting – Receive royalty payments instantly via a smart accounting and reporting system. Community members don’t need a separate accounting system as all payments and accounting information is saved on the blockchain.
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Community Marketplace - Our marketplace enables coin holders to buy, sell and book products and services such as flights, hotels, models, venues and studios with their coins. The marketplace will also create kickstarter opportunities for startups and service companies.
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Distribution Platform – KodakOne is building a distribution platform for rights cleared images. On this distribution platform buyers (licensee) and licensors can buy/sell trade images based on the licensors licensing terms and conditions.
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Post Licensing (Legal Enforcement) – KodakOne provides continual web crawling in order to protect the IP of its members. Where unlicensed usage of images is detected, KodakOne can efficiently manage the post-licensing process.
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Image Tracking – Community members can track usage of their photos and use these insights for more efficient and effective marketing of their assets.
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Instant Payment – smart contracting payments are executed instantly as all payments will be made in Kodak Coin.
Still A Lot To Be Explained
What is a Kodak Coin worth in terms or dollars? Will it be continually fluctuating? Will the value change between the time the customer makes a payment and the time the photographer uses it to actually buy something? How does the photographer buy groceries with a Kodak Coin?
Will photographers only be able to transact business with others who are willing to accept Kodak Coins for the products and services they provide?
How will usage fees be established? Will there be a schedule of fees for certain uses? Will photographers have to accept those fees or not participate? Will the licensing be RF or RM? Will each photographer be able to set his own fees?
Will there need to be direct communication between the photographer and the buyer for most sales and, if so, how will that inhibit sales given the current ways image licensing is conducted?
What percentage will KodakOne take of sales? They will have to get something for the service they are providing and presumably a lot considering how hot investors think this investment is. (Kodak shares rocketed up more than 120 per cent on news of the KodakCoin's release.)
How will KodakOne get a significant, diverse collection of the images that are in demand? Why would any photographer give their images to KodakOne exclusively? Big risk. If they put their images with KodakOne non-exclusively then the only sales KodakOne will record are the sales made through KodakOne. Potentially, there will be a huge number of other legal uses out there that Kodak can’t track including all the uses made worldwide prior to actually launching KodakOne. In order to do any legal enforcement, they will have to come back to the photographer to determine if the use was authorized or not.
How will this marketplace get instant credibility and attention from image buyers? Getty Images, Shutterstock and Adobe Stock currently control 65% to 70% of the worldwide market. Why will customer suddenly switch to Kodak?
One thing for sure. We’re all going to have to learn a lot more about cryptocurrencies and blockchains in 2018. Be sure to also check out this
story.