The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has united with audio-visual and image organisations and blockchain rights company Jaak to investigate the potential use of blockchain technology. Under the partnership, which was announced on November 27, the working group will explore how blockchain can improve the availability of public domain works, such as copyright works where protection has expired or works offered to the public to use for free. With a focus on the UK’s film and image industries, collaborators include the British Film Institute, the Design and Artists Copyright Society, the British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies, and the Federation of Commercial Audiovisual Libraries. The working group will explore solutions that overcome barriers to access and improve the availability of public domain works. Jaak uses Kord, an open protocol on the Ethereum blockchain, to allow participants including libraries, creators, labels, publishers, and performing rights organisations to record and track IP data. In addition to classifying and cataloguing, the group will explore a verification system which could expedite the search process for licensees. This supports the current orphan works licensing scheme that the IPO manages.

Source: WIPR