In this article, we explore one way of how innovative blockchain technology can protect, distribute and license creative work to incentivise more creativity in our world: digital rights management in photography with Kodak. Kodak has re-invented itself in recent years as a cutting edge blockchain technology company, having launched an Initial Coin Offering (“ICO”) for their KODAKOne digital rights management system with its KODAKCoin token at the start of 2018 and Kodak stock jumped 88% at the news.

Blockchain and KODAKCOIN

KODAKCOIN is a photographer-oriented blockchain cryptocurrency used for payments for licensing photographs on the KODAKOne platform. The idea behind KODAKONe is to provide a way for photographers to digitally register their photographs on the public blockchain ledger, thus entitling and enabling them to receive micropayments for usage and ultimately helping individual photographers protect their creative endeavours.

This is a great vision which distributes the rewards of photographic content back to its original photographer and thus incentivising more people to contribute higher quality photos for the end consumer.

However, implementation is key to the success of KODAKOne and bringing people onboard to use the system and token is an absolute must.

NBA and NHL Partnerships

As a great example of establishing relevant strategic partnerships to push their forward-thinking blockchain initiative, Kodak along with WENN Digital, the technology company that is behind KODAKOne, has just announced a partnership with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL)to create a system where fans can upload the pictures and videos they take at games and potentially get paid for them based on user reviews.

This system provides access to a vast number of photographic shots and media outlets can obtain the rights to use these without treading into legal grey area of taking content off social media.