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Copyright law doesn't care what technology you use to store and distribute material. If you have a blockchain that contains unauthorized copyrighted material, a
by skymt 9y ago
Copyright law doesn't care what technology you use to store and distribute material. If you have a blockchain that contains unauthorized copyrighted material, any host participating in that network would be legally subject to DMCA requests by the copyright holder. What would the defense look like in court, anyway? "We can't stop illegally distributing the plaintiff's content because that would break the chain?" In effect it would just be a spectacularly inefficient distributed storage system.
- benchaney 9y agoYou are overlooking the fact that there is no actual DMCA violation in this case. The problem is that companies being bullied with frivolous DMCA threats will comply because it is easier than fighting it. Using a blockchain removes this as an option (and also makes the bullying pointless in the first place).
- skymt 9y agoAnd when your DMCA-proof storage system receives a valid DMCA notice for an actual case of infringement, what's the plan?
- gremlinsinc 9y agothey will need contact each node..i.e. device that has the blockchain and file a dmca directly w/ each one... maybe? lol
- daenney 9y agoHow would that work though? DMCA only applies to the US, so with a global network how would the DMCA be effective? Even if every node in the network in the US removes it, all you might achieve is break the chain. The content will still be there.
- skymt 9y agoThe same is true of any other distributed storage system. Adding a blockchain doesn't change the situation in any way, other than making complying with the law far less convenient. Though I should add that while the DMCA is indeed a US law, and notification and enforcement mechanisms vary by jurisdiction, other countries also have copyright law. It's illegal to publish copyrighted material without permission in any country with a copyright system. That's what copyright is.