NFT Protection for Intellectual Property
44 patents in this list
Updated:
Digital rights management systems have struggled to keep pace with the complexity of modern intellectual property. Traditional IP frameworks rely on centralized databases and manual verification, leading to disputes over ownership, licensing terms, and usage rights that can take months to resolve. Industry data shows that IP litigation costs regularly exceed $2.5M per case in the US alone.
The core challenge lies in creating verifiable proof of ownership and transfer mechanisms that can operate at the speed of digital commerce while maintaining compliance with existing legal frameworks.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including hybrid asset management systems that synchronize physical and digital ownership records, blockchain-based IP rights validation frameworks, and smart contract systems for automated licensing enforcement. These and other approaches demonstrate how distributed ledger technologies can provide transparency and efficiency in IP rights management while ensuring legal enforceability.
1. System for Product and Rights Management Using Secure Tags and Non-Fungible Tokens
Intertrust Technologies Corporation, 2024
Using secure tags and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to manage products and associated rights in a secure and dynamic way. The secure tags can be physical NFC tags embedded in products or virtual watermarks referencing digital tags. NFTs are associated with the products and rights. This allows managing rights using NFT techniques like marketplaces, transfers, and smart contracts. The secure tags provide physical verification of products and ownership. The NFTs enable dynamic rights management and tracking.
2. Blockchain Platform for Digital Asset and Physical Collectible Management with Automated Buyback and Tokenization Features
Lucky Hive Ventures LLC, 2024
Blockchain-based platform for managing and facilitating transactions in digital assets and physical collectibles using blockchain technology, including minting, revealing, and offering automated buyback functionalities for Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and Physical Collectibles (RWAs), as well as providing secure storage and regulatory compliance solutions within a unified platform. The platform offers features like automated buyback offers for NFTs, enhanced market dynamics, tokenization of physical collectibles, secure storage, community engagement, marketing campaigns, and regulatory compliance.
3. Blockchain System for Integrated NFT Ownership and Copyright Tokenization
KYON DOO HEON, 2024
A blockchain-based system for integrated NFT ownership and copyright. The system enables buying NFTs with tokens that represent both ownership and copyright. Users can trade these tokens to transfer ownership and copyright proportionally. This provides a way to have meaningful rights in NFTs that can be traded separately. The system generates NFT tokens with unique keys, manages them, and allows trading while tracking shares and prices. It also has a digital wallet system to manage hot/cold storage and distribute revenue based on shares.
4. Digital Token with Inextricably Bound Off-Chain Rights and Variable Protocol Evolution
MINTANGIBLE INC, 2024
Secure, immutable digital tokens called rights bound tokens (RBTs) that associate a blockchain token with off-chain rights. The tokens are digitally native assets with intrinsic value based on real-world rights. The RBTs have both a tokenized asset and a structured rights package inextricably bound via internal and external bindings. This allows rights to be created ahead of the token, evolve post-facto, and maintain immutability. The rights protocol can evolve over time. The rights bound tokens provide a flexible, scalable, and decentralized way to represent rights as digital assets on blockchains.
5. System for Content Rights Management Using Non-Fungible Tokens on Blockchain Ledgers
Intertrust Technologies Corporation, 2024
Managing content rights using non-fungible tokens (NFTs) associated with content in a marketplace leveraging trusted ledgers like blockchains. The system allows securely managing content rights, like creation, sharing, terms, and distribution, using NFTs. It enables creators to create NFTs representing their content, associate metadata, rights, and conditions, and list the NFTs in a marketplace. It provides a trustworthy way to track and enforce content rights using blockchain's immutable and transparent ledger.
6. Blockchain-Based System for Representing Real-World Assets Using NFTs with Multi-Signature Smart Contract Compliance Verification
GUANGZHOU YUEZHI COMPUTER CO LTD, 2024
Using blockchain non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to represent real-world assets and enable compliance events like audits and legal statements to enhance trust and acceptance of the assets. The method involves deploying a compliance review organization on the blockchain using multi-signature smart contracts. The organization can publish real asset descriptions and have voting decision makers sign compliance reviews. The asset NFTs store hash of the reviews. This allows offline assets to be tokenized on-chain with endorsement from trusted entities.
7. Blockchain System for Fractional Access Tokenization and Management of Asset Ownership
Third Venture Partners, Inc., PWCC Marketplace, LLC, 2024
Blockchain-based system for representing and managing access rights to valuable assets like collectibles, art, cars, etc. It involves minting fungible access tokens representing fractional ownership or access privileges to assets, which can be traded separately from the underlying non-fungible title token. This allows fractionalizing and distributing asset access rights in a more efficient and flexible way compared to traditional joint ownership methods. The system uses a blockchain distributed app with a table tracking the title token and access tokens. It enables features like unchaining (withdrawing) the title token when a threshold of access tokens is held, and transferring individual access tokens.
8. Blockchain-Based Digital Copyright Protection System Utilizing Non-Fungible Tokens for Electronic Books
David Exline, 2023
Digital copyright protection for electronic books using blockchain technology. The method involves minting NFTs (non-fungible tokens) representing books on a proof-of-stake blockchain. Users pay native tokens to mint their books, which are verified and stored immutably on the blockchain. This provides secure, decentralized, and tamper-proof publishing and retrieval of digital books. The blockchain audit trail allows tracking and verification of book versions.
9. Blockchain-Based Token System for Music Copyright Fee Allocation via Streaming-Linked NFTs
HYBE CO LTD, 2023
Token management system for tracking and distributing music copyright fees generated from streaming. It involves issuing NFTs representing a portion of streaming revenue for copyrighted music. The NFTs are linked to the blockchain and tracked as the music is streamed. The revenue generated from streaming is calculated based on the NFT stake and distributed to the NFT owner. This allows copyright holders to tokenize their music and receive direct payments from streams rather than relying on royalties from music platforms.
10. Hybrid Asset Management System with Blockchain-Synchronized Digital Certificates and NFTs
Numéraire Financial, Inc., 2023
A hybrid asset management system that enables secure and efficient trading of physical assets with corresponding digital tokens on blockchains. The system synchronizes digital asset certificates (stored off-chain) with blockchain-based NFTs representing the assets. This allows consistent ownership and transfer between the physical and digital representations. When an NFT is sold, the system replaces the off-chain certificate with a new one for the buyer. This ensures the physical asset's legal ownership matches the blockchain.
11. Method for Issuing Non-Fungible Tokens of Industrial Property Rights with Authentication and Transfer Verification
BIZMODELINE CO LTD, 2023
A method for issuing non-fungible tokens (NFTs) of industrial property rights that ensures secure NFTs matching the rights. The method involves verifying authentication procedures to issue NFTs for specific percentages of rights transferred to corporations. It involves steps like qualification checks, ownership checks, and transfer initiation checks. By linking NFT issuance to transferred rights, it prevents unauthorized transfers or extinction during the rights term.
12. Decentralized Digital Asset Preservation System Using Blockchain-Based Token Exchange Mechanism
UNIV GIRONA, UNIVERSITAT DE GIRONA, 2023
Self-value preservation of digital assets in a decentralized computing platform using blockchain tokens. Digital assets like art, music, etc. are represented as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) with a wallet and smart contract. When an asset needs preservation, a second member pays with tokens to the platform's manager. The manager splits the payment into exchangeable tokens and provides the preservation service. The asset's token wallet checks if it has enough tokens. If so, it exchanges tokens for exchangeable tokens. The manager then gives the asset access to the second member using the exchanged tokens. This self-preservation model leverages the blockchain to enable decentralized preservation of digital assets.
13. Blockchain-Based System for IP Rights Management and Transfer in NFTs Using Specialized IP Tokens
Erich Lawson Spangenberg, Jonas Block, Daniel Lawrence Bork, 2023
Securing and tracking IP rights for NFTs using blockchain to prevent unauthorized use of IP in NFTs while still allowing IP owners to monetize their IP through NFT sales. The method involves using blockchain smart contracts to tie IP rights to NFTs in a way that is transparent, tamper-proof, and enforceable. It uses specialized IP tokens that represent ownership or licenses for IP associated with NFTs. These IP tokens can be transferred along with the NFTs to ensure that the new owners have the proper IP rights. The tokens are designed to define the exact scope and limitations of the IP rights being transferred.
14. Blockchain-Based Method for Linking Non-Fungible Tokens to Intellectual Property Rights via Extendable Chain of Custody
Erich Lawson Spangenberg, Jonas Block, Daniel Lawrence Bork, 2023
A method to establish a maturable non-fungible token (NFT) recorded on a blockchain and referencing an extendable chain of custody, and to allocate intellectual property (IP) rights reliably, clearly, and in an interoperable manner to any NFT recorded on a blockchain, independent of its origin. The method involves linking NFTs to IP rights using an extendable chain of custody. This allows IP rights to be associated with NFTs in a verifiable, interoperable, and clear manner, even if the NFTs were created separately. The chain of custody can be a blockchain record or multiple blockchain records. The NFTs can reference the chain of custody to provide proof of IP ownership and transfer. This addresses issues like proof of provenance, IP allocation, and tradability of NFTs.
15. System for Fractional Ownership and Monetization of Tokenized Intellectual Property via Blockchain-Integrated NFT Modification
UREEQA INC, 2023
Monetizing tokenized intellectual property through a system that enables fractional ownership, licensing, collateralization, insurance, and tradeable rewards programs for tokenized IP. The system involves minting a validated NFT for IP, storing it on a blockchain, and then allowing monetization requests like fractional ownership, licensing, collateralization, insurance, and tradeable rewards. These requests modify the NFT and update the blockchain. This allows diversified monetization options for tokenized IP beyond just trading the NFT.
16. Blockchain-Based Intellectual Property Trading System Utilizing NFTs for Tokenization and Transfer
Erich Lawson Spangenberg, BRADLEY NOLAN ROTTER, BRIAN JOSHUA BERMAN, 2023
A system for trading intellectual property rights using NFTs to enable reliable and efficient transfer of patents, copyrights, etc. The system involves tokenizing IP rights on blockchains and creating NFTs representing the rights. These can be traded like stocks, allowing investors to buy, sell, and license IP assets. The NFTs provide clear title, ownership history, and encumbrance information.
17. Blockchain-Based System for Tokenizing Physical Goods with Material and Biological Fingerprinting
Numéraire Financial, Inc., 2023
A system for managing digital representations of scarce physical goods like luxury items using blockchain and cryptography. The system involves tokenizing physical goods as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on a blockchain network. For luxury items, the system uses material fingerprinting to create a unique digital identifier for the item's physical properties. For heirloom-grade items, the system adds biological fingerprinting using DNA analysis of the item's patron. This allows restricted ownership rules based on biological relationships. The system also uses smart contracts for bidding and transfer of the NFTs with entitlement verification.
18. Blockchain-Based System for Patent Licensing with Smart Contract-Linked Non-Fungible Tokens
Caerus Institute LLC, 2023
Automating the licensing of patented technologies using blockchains and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This involves creating an NFT representing a patent, recording licensing terms in a smart contract, and using the blockchain to track and enforce licensing agreements. The NFTs can be transferred, sold, or licensed like physical assets, enabling automated patent licensing and monetization.
19. Blockchain Registry for NFT Copyright License and Derivative Authorization Tracking
Aria Mir, 2023
Blockchain-based registry of copyright license status, usage rights, and other intellectual property rights associated with NFTs. It enables authors to authorize derivatives of their NFTs and have immutable blockchain records indicating approved derivative works. This allows future token purchasers to query the registry to check if a derivative NFT was made in an authorized manner or infringes copyright. The registry can be smart contracts or oracles callable from third-party smart contracts to confirm licensed derivatives.
20. Transaction Management System for Digital Assets Utilizing Blockchain Integration
Salesforce.com, Inc., 2023
Improved transaction management for digital assets stored in an on-demand database system by leveraging public blockchains. The method involves creating digital assets in the database, recording their ownership and other rights in the blockchain, and transferring assets between users via blockchain transactions. This provides secure, verifiable asset tracking outside the database's control. It allows features like smart contracts, tokenization, and privacy-preserving metadata storage.
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These advances explore a variety of ways to integrate Non-fungible Tokens (NFT) with intellectual property. Some focus on securing and managing intellectual property rights within NFTs. Others address streamlining the licensing process for patents through NFTs.