Photographic giant Kodak has unveiled a new online image policing app designed to track copyright pirates.
Powered by the blockchain and Kodakcoin, the app monitors the licensing of images for use on web sites.
Image rights holders are paid their royalties as Kodakcoin, which can be spent within the online community or converted into cash.
Kodak recognised that the corporation’s inability to cope with the digital revolution in cameras has damaged the brand but believes an early entry into digital rights management with KodakOne will provide photographers with a revenue stream by protecting their work online.
KodakOne stores images and their metadata on a secure blockchain database and lets photographers manage licensing, while providing proof of the transaction.
Web crawler searches for image pirates
At the same time, a web crawler will constantly search millions of web sites to detect any unauthorised use of images and ‘softly persuade’ offending publishers to pay a licence fee rather than face court proceedings.
Kodak CEO Jeff Clarke says that Blockchain and cryptocurrency are hot buzzwords, but these buzzwords may be key for photographers who have struggled to control their work.
“Kodak has always sought to democratize photography and make licensing fair to artists. These technologies give the photography community an innovative and easy way to do just that,” he said.
The company explained that KodakCoin hopes to establish a new economy for photographers that provides a fast and efficient real-time payment system that does not involve exchanging currencies.
Safe financial and business environment
WENN Digital is operating the platform for Kodak.
CEO Jan Denecke says KodakOne and KodakCoin are a safe environment for photographers looking to monetise their work.
“Engaging with a new platform, it is critical photographers know their work and their income is handled securely and with trust, which is exactly what we did with Kodakcoin,” said Denecke.
“Subject to the highest standards of compliance, Kodakcoin is all about paying photographers fairly and giving them an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a new economy tailored for them, with secure asset rights management built right in.”
KodakCoin is designed to exchange for camera and lighting equipment, flights, hotels and other expenses regularly paid by photographers on local and international assignments.