Copyright Management Research Articles

Blockchain for video watermarking: An enhanced copyright protection approach for video forensics based on perceptual hash function.

As a direct result of advancements in digital technology and the Internet, the copyright protection and information integrity of multimedia that are being published across the Internet have emerged as a major and urgent issue that needs to be addressed. The technique of digital watermarking may be used to protect intellectual property. In terms of authentication, resilience, storage, and capacity of digital watermarking information, there is still room for development. Blockchain's potential in video copyright protection and management applications has motivated researchers. Copyright owners and consumers may now communicate directly via copyright protection apps built on the blockchain, eliminating the need for distributers and the associated fees. Nonetheless, the current blockchain-based video watermarking solutions require storing a significant number of coordinates depending on the watermark size and are susceptible to video frame attacks on the video frame texture region. This study proposes an enhanced video copyright management approach that incorporates digital watermarking, the blockchain, and a perceptual hash function. Watermark information is stored on a blockchain structure, which also acts as a timestamp for verification purposes. To verify watermark data without the source video, a perceptual hash function is employed to compute a hash value based on the structural information of video frames. The contribution is in learning how to extract a hash function from a small number of video frames that still adequately represent a large amount of video content while also reducing the number of unnecessary video frames and the amount of computation required to summarize and index that content in a blockchain. This expedites the dissemination of copyrighted works and increases their security and readability, hence facilitating their circulation on the Internet. Our experimental results demonstrate that this approach is memory efficient, as it only needs to store one key for each key frame, regardless of the size of the watermark. Additionally, the overall robustness is greatly improved by using the blockchain's random hash function. Therefore, new and important advancements in video watermarking have been realized because of this effort.

Enabling Efficient Verification in a DApp: the Case of Copyright Management

The Interested Party Information (IPI) system uniquely identifies the rights holders worldwide, making it possible to know for each subject and at any time which rights are protected, by whom and for which territories. Currently, this service is provided in a centralized way but, in 2021, Italian Society of Authors and Editors (SIAE) deployed a blockchain-based solution to completely decentralize this database to a) provide greater guarantees to the rights holders as well as to end users and b) make a first tangible step in the path towards an all in-chain solution decentralizing a relevant component of the current architecture. Such solution relied on early versions of Algorand smart contracts, delegating in many practical scenarios, some off-chain verification to trusted third parties. In the meanwhile, the Algorand technology developed new tools, allowing us to design new techniques to reduce some of the trust assumptions of the original solution and enhance at the same time its efficiency. In this paper, we present the evolution of the solutions we designed to issue new on-chain non-conflicting rights representations, namely representations that are consistent with the ones already available on-chain. Our solution relies on smart contracts that have been implemented to run our experiments to prove a) the feasibility of the proposed approach, b) the scalability of the proposed solutions and c) the sustainability in terms of costs.

DRPChain: A new blockchain-based trusted DRM scheme for image content protection

The unauthorized replication and distribution of digital images pose significant challenges to copyright protection. While existing solutions incorporate blockchain-based techniques such as perceptual hashing and digital watermarking, they lack large-scale experimental validation and a dedicated blockchain consensus protocol for image copyright management. This paper introduces DRPChain, a novel digital image copyright management system that addresses these issues. DRPChain employs an efficient cropping-resistant robust image hashing algorithm to defend against 14 common image attacks, demonstrating an 85% success rate in watermark extraction, 10% higher than the original scheme. Moreover, the paper designs the K-Raft consensus algorithm tailored for image copyright protection. Comparative experiments with Raft and benchmarking against PoW and PBFT algorithms show that K-Raft reduces block error rates by 2%, improves efficiency by 300ms compared to Raft, and exhibits superior efficiency,decentralization, and throughput compared to PoW and PBFT. These advantages make K-Raft more suitable for digital image copyright protection. This research contributes valuable insights into using blockchain technology for digital copyright protection, providing a solid foundation for future exploration.

Alternatif Penyelesaian Sengketa Luar Hukum Bagi Inventor Terhadap Pelanggaran Moral Hak Cipta Lagu Dalam Hak Ekonomi

Copyright is an exclusive right that gives rewards to the creator in the form of economic rights and moral rights. Moral rights are rights inherent in the creator's personality which are basically carried out to respect the creator's creativity by including his name in the creative work. Legal protection for musicians regarding copyright in paying royalties as well as resolving disputes regarding the use of song works without paying royalties. Easy access to information and technology often provides opportunities for netizens to access copyrighted works without including the name of the creator. In this research, there are two problems examined, namely moral rights in the copyright protection system and resolution of moral rights disputes in copyrighted works. Moral rights consist of the right for the creator to continue to include or not include his name on the copy in connection with the use of his work for the public, to use his alias or pseudonym, to change his work according to appropriateness in society, to change the title and sub-title of the work; and defend their rights in the event of distortion of the Work, mutilation of the Work, modification of the Work, or anything that is detrimental to their personal honor or reputation. To protect the moral rights of the Creator may have Copyright management information; and/or Copyright electronic information. The results of the research show that there is still no awareness among artists. Even national performances are still not aware of copyright so there needs to be a real role for the relevant government to be more active in monitoring and providing real protection. Settlement of disputes over violations of moral rights in copyrighted works can be done through. dispute resolution, arbitration, or court. Supervision is needed to see what is happening in the field so far, there must be clarity regarding the relevant regulations and there also needs to be a clear agreement so that there is mutual benefit and there are no misunderstandings in the future.

The Frictions of IP and the Schism in Turkey’s Collective Management of Music Copyright

Despite the increasing international integration of intellectual property (IP), national laws and structures for implementing rights in music continue to vary, for better or for worse, in ways that matter to musicians and other copyright stakeholders. This article draws on oral history and archival data to examine one such variation. Where most countries have only one copyright collecting society for musical authors, there are two in Turkey (MESAM and MSG). IP experts and administrators blame competition or lack of coordination between the two societies for a host of problems, including complicating the processes of performing rights licensing and royalty distribution. Analyzing the origin story of the second collecting society through the lens of Anna Tsing’s influential concept of “friction,” I highlight the social and cultural dynamics that complicate the ongoing global integration of IP and the general development of structures for enforcing IP rights in music.

A secure and lightweight data management scheme based on redactable blockchain for Digital Copyright

Traditional Digital Copyright (DC) management system faces a single point of failure, and has no strict traceability. Meanwhile, the current blockchain-based DC schemes take less consideration to the authenticity of DC information stored on the blockchain. Additionally, the full node storage overhead and computation overhead of information retrieval and traceability increase significantly with the number of blocks. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a secure and lightweight data management scheme based on the redactable blockchain for DC. Users generate their public and private keys, which provide a legitimate signature. Then, we propose a transaction control mechanism based on ECDSA, which means that the storage of DC information can only be accomplished by providing a legitimate and verifiable signature, including registration and transaction information. Furthermore, we adopt blockchain to record DC information and the chameleon hash algorithm to modify DC information stored on the blockchain when making DC transactions, while keeping the block headers unchanged. System analysis and experimental results confirm that our scheme can address a single point of failure and ensure the authenticity of the information. Meanwhile, our scheme effectively reduces full node storage overhead, and computation overhead of information retrieval and traceability.

Turkish Radio and TV Broadcasting Corporation’s new streaming application and the continuity of music policy as an educational institution

While numerous studies focus on streaming platforms as new business models or as novel elements in the supply chain, there is a notable gap in research addressing how streaming is operationalized within the context of state cultural policies. This study aims to fill this gap by conducting a preliminary examination of Turkish Radio and Television Broadcasting Corporation’s (TRT’s) digital transformation through its music streaming platform, TRT Listen. This research contributes to the international literature by highlighting various potential approaches to the digitalization of public radio broadcasting. This study, which examines the purpose and realization of TRT Listen, first provides a historical overview of TRT’s radio broadcasting and thus reveals the continuity in TRT’s cultural policy, which is shaped as a mission to educate the public and inculcate a national cultural identity, from radio broadcasting to the platform app. Two different research methods were used in this study: walk-through technique for the app and in-depth interviews with TRT’s staff and music industry representatives. The basic argument suggests that TRT Listen represents a continuation of historical music policies and nation state cultural agenda inherited from TRT’s radio era. However, at the operational level, this strategic continuity seems to disappear in the audience engagement techniques of digital platforms. The three main discussion sections of this article – TRT Listen’s strategic orientation, content curation and copyright management – reveal the platform’s mission to educate the public culturally in Turkey.

Digital Copyright Management Strategy of Digital Library Based on Blockchain Technology

Using blockchain technology to handle the entire chain of digital copyrights in digital libraries not only helps to improve the economy, validity, and fairness of the libraries’ digital resource offerings, but it also increases the revenue of digital copyright subjects in a sustainable manner. In this work, a decentralized, secure, and traceable digital copyright transaction system is designed and implemented using blockchain technology. The system serves creators, administrators, and subscribers through its user layer, business model layer, and Fabric network layer. To guarantee the accuracy and integrity of transaction data, smart contracts are used for the registration of digital works, transaction supervision, and smart contract execution. Fabric Composer is used in the development of the system and offers good scalability. The system still has issues with privacy protection, increasing performance, and complying with laws and regulations. It is anticipated that the digital copyright transaction system will advance in the area of digital copyright protection as blockchain technology develops.

Semantics and Non-fungible Tokens for Copyright Management on the Metaverse and Beyond

Recent initiatives related to the Metaverse focus on better visualization, like augmented or virtual reality, but also persistent digital objects. To guarantee real ownership of these digital objects, open systems based on public blockchains and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) are emerging together with a nascent decentralized and open creator economy. To manage this emerging economy in a more organized way, and fight the so common NFT plagiarism, we propose CopyrightLY, a decentralized application for authorship and copyright management. It provides means to claim content authorship, including supporting evidence. Content and metadata are stored in decentralized storage and registered on the blockchain. A token is used to curate these claims, and potential complaints, by staking it on them. Staking is incentivized by the fact that the token is minted using a bonding curve. The tokenomics include the resolution of complaints and enabling the monetization of curated claims. Monetization is achieved through licensing NFTs with metadata enhanced by semantic technologies. Semantic data makes explicit the reuse conditions transferred with the token while keeping the connection to the underlying copyright claims to improve the trustability of the NFTs. Moreover, the semantic metadata is flexible enough to enable licensing not just in the real world. Licenses can refer to reuses in specific locations in a metaverse, thus facilitating the emergence of creative economies in them.

Copyright and digital music platforms: harmony or dissonance?

This study addresses the complex relationship between copyright and digital music platforms in the digital era. As digital platforms become the primary means of music distribution, significant challenges arise concerning the protection and fair compensation of authors. The article explores the evolution of the music industry, from the early days of the phonograph to modern streaming platforms, highlighting the technological changes that have shaped the relationship between music and technology. The copyright system in Brazil is also discussed, influenced by the French dual protection model, encompassing both economic and moral rights. The text also analyzes the role of the Central Office for Collection of Copyright (ECAD) and its seven Associations in the collective management of copyright, as well as the issue of transparency in the distribution of economic rights. One point of debate is whether music transmission through streaming platforms should be considered public or private performance, directly impacting copyright revenue collection. Therefore, this study aims to present the relevant panorama of this new context of copyright associated with digital music platforms (streaming). Adopting a deductive methodology with exploratory research, the article concludes that the landscape of copyright in Brazil and its relationship with digital music platforms is a complex and challenging topic that requires careful consideration and appropriate regulation to ensure authors are adequately protected in a constantly evolving digital environment. It emphasizes the need for greater transparency and clarity in the collection, calculation, and distribution system of economic rights by digital music platforms.

Коллективное управление авторскими и смежными правами: современное состояние и перспективы

The article examines the current issues of the institute of collective management of copyright and related rights. The author substantiates the agency nature of legal relations arising from an agreement between copyright holders and collective management organisations. It argues in favour of necessity to extend the institute of collective management to such ways of using musical and musical-dramatic works as their inclusion in a complex object and making them publicly available. The judicial practice according to which allows to compel the user to conclude a remuneration agreement with an accredited collective management organisation is critically evaluated. Some changes to the existing model of participation of collective management organisations in the protection of copyright and related rights are proposed.

Who do we Pay for Music: Artists or DSP\'s?

Abstract: The involvement of digital service providers (DSPs) or platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal, that deliver streamed music, has significantly transformed the functioning of copyright management organizations (CMOs) and the compensation structure for songwriters and recording artists. The concept of platform economics has originated from the economic analysis of two-sided and multi-sided markets, providing fresh insights into business practices in the digital realm. This concept is now being applied specifically to the domain of music streaming services.

Analysis and Design of Digital Transformation Factors in the Teaching Process of the "Wise Traditional Music Classroom"

This study aims to explore the digital technology-enabled traditional music classroom education and teaching ecological design based on cultural heritage protection and inheritance, in order to improve the efficiency of cultural heritage classroom teaching and digital reform. We chose the excellent traditional Chinese music culture "Poyang Fishing Song" as a case study for analysis and demonstration. Mathematical modelling methods, time series analysis, data mining and optimisation models were used to quantify the efficiency of cultural heritage transmission and the impact of digital reform. Meanwhile, the application of blockchain technology in music education, especially in the field of copyright management, is explored to support the digital transformation of the education ecosystem. By digging deeper and revealing the potentials and limitations of digital transformation, it provides tools for educational institutions, policy makers and researchers to learn from in order to better address new challenges and seize new opportunities.

РЕФОРМУВАННЯ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ СИСТЕМИ ПРАВОВОЇ ОХОРОНИ ІНТЕЛЕКТУАЛЬНОЇ ВЛАСНОСТІ УКРАЇНИ В КОНТЕКСТІ ЄВРОІНТЕГРАЦІЇ

The article investigates the current state and effectiveness of reforms within Ukraine's intellectual property (IP) system in the context of European integration. By analyzing scientific literature and legal regulations, it aims to substantiate recommendations and proposals for further development of the IP system. The primary focus lies on analyzing the IP system and its transformation during Ukraine's European integration process. The article delves into the essence, nature, and key approaches to defining the IP system. Following the ratification of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU, the authors explore the motivations behind the necessary reforms for the Ukrainian IP system. These reforms ultimately aim to integrate Ukraine into the EU single market. The article outlines the goals and objectives of these reforms, along with an analysis of the regulatory framework that defines the directions for IP system reform. It then examines the main strategic reform areas in the IP field, including: reforming the state IP management system; reorganizing the system for collective management of copyright and related rights; ensuring transparency in the operations of the newly established National Intellectual Property Office (UIPO/IP Office); enhancing and harmonizing Ukrainian legislation with EU law during European integration. The article analyzes the positive changes that have emerged within the IP system during the reform process. It also identifies the main barriers and challenges hindering the development of the IP system in contemporary times. Furthermore, the research analyzes the dynamics of Ukraine's position in international rankings based on changes in the Intellectual Property Rights Index and its sub-indices. The authors conclude that the IP system reform remains unfinished. This incompleteness negatively impacts the country's economic development during wartime and hinders European integration efforts. The article explores effective tools and measures that could accelerate positive changes in Ukraine's IP system.

A blockchain-based copyright management scheme for open-source software and hardware designs

A blockchain-based copyright management scheme for open-source software and hardware designs

2020년 개정 부가가치세법과 저작권신탁관리제도

Korea’s Value Added Tax Act had treated the supply of goods or services related to trust property in a manner similar to consignment transactions, without explicit statutory provisions. In 2020, the amended Value Added Tax Act (Act No. 17653, dated December 22, 2020, partially amended, enforced from January 1, 2022) designated the trustee as a taxpayer and established specific regulations aimed at preventing tax avoidance and securing tax claims related to trusts.
 The amended Value Added Tax Act primarily focused on real estate trusts and money trusts, giving insufficient attention to copyright trusts, which are mainly used for the management and utilization of copyrights.
 When examining the issues arising from the amended Value Added Tax Act, focusing on the case of music copyright trust management organizations, first, Copyright trust management organizations are expected to bear a significant amount of tax compliance costs in carrying out business registration obligations for trust property belonging to trusts established after January 1, 2022. Next, in accordance with Article 5 of the supplementary provisions of the amended Value Added Tax Act, a situation may arise in which consignor taxation and trustee taxation are applied simultaneously for a considerable period of time, which may undermine the original purpose of introducing the copyright trust, which is to effectively manage and utilize copyright for copyright holders and users. Finally, when applying the consignor’s taxation regulations in cases where the consignor is unknown, Value Added Tax Act does not specify otherwise. Furthermore, within the trustee’s taxation regulations, there are no regulations addressing the application of Value Added Tax exemption on copyright fees.
 As recommendations for addressing the Value Added Tax issues surrounding copyright trust management, the following are proposed. First, the regulations on the registration of trust property comprehensive businesses allowed for real estate collateral trusts of trust companies should be allowed for copyright trust management organizations approved by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism under Article 105 of Copyright Act. Next, when applying Article 5 of the Supplementary Provisions to the revised Value Added Tax Act, copyright trust management organizations must be allowed to selectively exclude application. Finally, in consideration of the characteristics of copyright trusts, a value-added tax practice in the form of consignment trading centered on copyright trust management organizations should be prepared.
 This study is meaningful in that it presents issues and improvement measures in VAT practice related to intellectual property rights not addressed in the VAT area, especially copyright trust management systems using copyright as trust property.

어문저작물의 재이용 합법화 및 공정화 방안

In the course of conducting business and research, numerous literary works, particularly those categorized as STM (Scientific, Technical, and Medical) works, are utilized. While some may be ‘re-used’ without the author’s consent due to copyright limitations or exceptions, the majority cannot. In principle, research institutes, companies, or public entities would need to individually seek permission from the rightsholder, which is not only a significant inconvenience but is also rarely practiced. Even in the digital age, the problem persists without signs of resolution. This situation results in financial losses for authors and exposes companies to liability issues related to copyright infringement. Ultimately, a solution must be found to ensure fair compensation for authors and adherence to copyright laws by companies.
 Recognizing this problem, Germany’s collecting society VG WORT has partnered with the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) to address it. RightsDirect, a subsidiary of CCC, has collaborated with VG WORT to offer Digital Copyright Licenses to companies, government offices, and public institutions. The outcome is a partnership that grants free digital reuse of scholarly works under the administration of VG WORT and CCC, while also providing additional income to participating authors affiliated with VG WORT.
 This paper aims to provide an overview of the collaboration between VG WORT and CCC/RightsDirect and to analyze its significance, structure, advantages, and limitations. Specifically, the article will examine how authors of literary works can benefit from such collaborations and whether they pose any negative impact on the existing system of collective management of copyright. Collaborations of this nature pose challenges and differ from traditional collective management. Nevertheless, it is undesirable to overlook issues of copyright infringement and reduced author profits, given the frequent reuse of works within companies. Drawing insights from the VG WORT case, we should assess the feasibility of a similar business model in Korea and proactively respond to future market changes.

Managing Ownership of Copyright in Research Publications to Increase the Public Benefits from Research

Producing and disseminating knowledge is core university business and a collaborative, global activity engaging multiple stakeholders including universities, researchers, governments, Indigenous communities, commercial bodies and the public. While ownership of university inventions attracts scholarly and policy attention, effective management of copyright in research outputs is also necessary to maximise the benefits of publicly funded research, but often neglected. This article explains current dynamics in academic publishing and research ownership. It seeks to explain the complex interface of copyright law, university policies, academic customary practices, Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBA), research funder mandates and policies, the guidelines and policies that pertain to Indigenous research, and publishing contracts. The article concludes with proposals for copyright management to maximise opportunities for greater public benefit from Australian research.

Analyzing the Metaverse: Computer Games, Blockchain, and 21st-Century Challenge

This paper explores the rapidly evolving Metaverse, particularly its relationship with computer games and blockchain technology, where the most development is happening, and the consequential ethical and societal implications. As we will observe, interaction is crucial for developing the Metaverse. Using a hybrid research methodology, incorporating structured review and extensive bibliometric analysis, we map the intricate dynamics of this emerging field, revealing an accelerated global adoption of the Metaverse and its integration with Blockchain. The year 2022 marks a turning point in the development of the Metaverse. Plus, we discuss the transformation spurred by this convergence, evaluating emerging ethical issues like ownership rights, privacy concerns, potential exploitation, and susceptibility to manipulation. Particular emphasis is placed on the rising presence of AI in gaming, investigating its role in addictive gaming mechanisms, potential propagation of harmful behaviours, and cultural bias reinforcement. We underline the Metaverse’s unceasing growth, emphasizing the need for future research to develop creative interaction strategies that respect social perspectives and prioritize ethical safeguards, enabling the Metaverse’s responsible evolution for all stakeholders’ benefit. Finally, we want to highlight many other potential applications of Metaverse and Blockchain, such as copyright management, economic disputes, traceability, or contract transparency.

QRCODE BASED BATIK PRODUCT LABELING INNOVATION AS A STRENGTHENING OF PERSONAL BRANDING AND INCREASING THE MARKETING OF BATIK MSMEs AS COMPETITION PREPAREDNESS IN THE GLOBAL MARKET

This community service activity is important to carry out because there is an urgency to introduce batik products more widely, especially Pekalongan batik which has its own distinctive and unique motifs and philosophies, and has differentiation which will be packaged through batik innovation with Quick Response Code labeling which can be accessed by consumers with a display that contains information about the profile of the SME maker along with the batik motifs complete with meanings and symbols and philosophies. Through this strategy, SMEs can market batik products more exclusively but still maintain the local wisdom and philosophy of Indonesian batik culture. In addition, SMEs are also able to boost the independence of SMEs in readiness for competition in the global market. The activity was carried out with partners, namely the Kauman Batik Kampoeng Association, East Pekalongan District, Pekalongan City. Activity partners have problems in the commercialization of branding and digital marketing. The method is carried out through several stages. Before the service team carries out activities, it begins with observations, adjusting the needs of service activity partners and creating a website for information needs that can be accessed via QRcode-based labels. The service team provides solutions to problems through training and assistance, including regarding the importance of QRCode-based batik labels, preparing UKM profiles for the QRCode database which refers to the website, assistance in using QRCode-based batik labels, as well as assistance and management of brand rights and copyrights.