Mid-summer reflections

I was a bit reluctant to write something more personal, especially at the beginning, but for this time, and I hope you'll grant me this, I'll make an exception. And that is also why we are a little late with the release of this week's blog.

Since the Initiative of Rights Chain has started, I've been able to talk to a lot of people, listening to their needs and doubts in sharing their own works and creations. The general sense I perceived by acquiring this information is doubt, distrust and frustration. Doubts from those who had expressed skepticism about the rights that they hold over their own works, distrust in the possibility of asserting them, and frustration for not being able to fully express their own creativity.

In addition, there is a complex regulatory framework, which leaves much to be desired as to communication with the people that are concerned.

The companies and social networks strive to acquire the largest number of subscribers possible to start (targeted) advertising and then sell information about "usage and customs" (that's just how it is, no need to beat around the bush) of their members for better-placed banners and announcements. Having a look at a news blog with an "ad-blocker" activated is enough to realize that the value of a page is not based on its content, but on the number of banners it contains.

Someone's "content", "intellectual property" no longer has value for the general market, but it is of value to those who illegitimately take ownership of it, without mentioning the source or, in the most striking cases, without even suggesting an economical return.

The general feeling all around this panorama is of frustration.

The idea behind the Initiative is to find a way to give value to creativity and above all to the tools to defend this creativity in a battlefield such as the Internet and social networks. Tools that are within reach of everyone, not just those who have a particular technological knowledge.

Tools that are easily accessible and have their focus on the one thing that really matters to us: who creates them.

Rights Chain is not yet another "social network" that will allow you to publish images so that other users can share them. Of course, we allow it, but there are specialised sites that already deal with this type of service. Instead, we have the ambition to represent a reference point where it can be possible to define the date of birth and the author of a digital Opera. Because if it should be necessary someday, your Opera will be registered and be there, to defend your Intellectual Property. You can keep track of the usage licence you feel is best for your creation and demonstrate, if necessary, that you have chosen to attribute all or just some of the rights reserved (Copyright vs. Creative Commons): social networks, companies, people, forums, traditional media.

Rights Chain Initiative is and will be made by Artists (you), and develops services to allow Artists (still you) to manage and hold control over their copyright and Intellectual Property.

We are aware of the difficulty of this business because we have made difficult decisions on how to carry on our Initiative. Because among us are those who have decided to commit to carry it on full-time (or nearly) and this is a commitment I would dare say is existential. Nevertheless, we firmly believe in what our mission is and what we have given to this Initiative.

Because, quoting a text written by one of us in the Rights Chain Initiative, "those who create, are worth it".