SonarMeta

Overview

SonarMeta has always been interested in intellectual property (IP). In the current Web2 platform economy, many potentially valuable IPs fail to thrive due to the monopoly and precise control of traffic. Creators often do not receive fair compensation, and copyright infringement is becoming increasingly serious. Therefore, SonarMeta aims to create a network where IP works as nodes and authorization acts as edges in a value network. The value of IP can be accurately captured, and it can circulate on the blockchain. The key to increasing the value of IP is the growth of its traffic. The simplest way to drive traffic is to authorize others to create derivatives. Authorization is the tool to gain traffic. When IP becomes more valuable, its authorization becomes more expensive. The price of authorization and its circulation reflect the value of IP. Thus, SonarMeta mints authorizations as NFTs, ensuring that the value of IP is not only captured but also circulates with its transactions. When authorizations circulate on the market, it means new derivatives and new traffic are generated, increasing the value of IP and its authorizations. This, in turn, enhances the overall network's value. Any creative organization, DAO, or individual creator can be seen as an IP. SonarMeta will transform the relationship between these entities from purely social to interest-based. More valuable IPs can purchase the authorizations of less valuable IPs at a lower cost and drive traffic to them. When the value of the latter increases, the value of the authorizations held by the former also increases. They can then sell these authorizations at a higher price to other IPs looking to drive traffic from the latter. This incentivizes the entire creator ecosystem to assist IPs that couldn't access early resources due to the exploitation of the Web2 platform economy, unlocking endless possibilities. Each IP has its internal contributors. SonarMeta uses Token Bound Accounts (TBAs) mentioned in ERC-6551 to track the contributors to each work. Different parts contributed by various contributors, such as different layers of a painting or segments of a music piece, are minted as component NFTs and placed in the work's TBA. This TBA serves as the receiving account for authorization NFTs. When a work is traded, authorized, or generates profit from commercial activities, the TBA acts as the receiving account and accurately indexes its components to calculate the dividends owed to each contributor. This motivates any creator to work harder and earn more. In the end, this network ensures that the value of IP can be captured and circulated. Traffic distribution is determined by the entire creator ecosystem rather than being controlled by Web2 content platforms. Copyright is protected, IPs form interest-based relationships, and everyone becomes a shareholder of the IPs they contribute to, enjoying their deserved profits.

Motivation

The current global cultural industry market is valued at least in the trillions of dollars, but most investment opportunities, brand agencies, and other social resources are flocking to the top-tier popular IPs. This is because the Web2 platform economy model seeks to strengthen the strong, deliberately allocating more traffic and exposure to the top IPs. However, we must realize that the potential of small tail-end IPs may far exceed that of the top-tier IPs. This is because while top IPs hold immense value, their quantity is extremely limited, whereas there is almost no limit to the number of tail-end IPs. On the internet, we often see some small IPs suddenly become superstars within a short period for various reasons. This is mostly because they coincidentally received traffic support (e.g., triggered the traffic recommendation algorithm of Web2 platforms) and, if they possess potential themselves, they can undoubtedly grow rapidly. However, not every IP can be so fortunate. More IPs face significant resource scarcity issues and can not unleash their potential. Therefore, we firmly believe that if we can unlock the untapped potential, it will have a tremendous impact, just like detonating a nuclear weapon.

What it does

Mission: To create a Web3 blockchain system where the value of IP and the contributions of creators can be captured, calculated, and circulated.
IP DAO: For ease of understanding and development, we define IP as an organization contributing to the IP (IP DAO), which can be one or multiple individuals, managed by a contract similar to a DAO.
Authorization: Authorization serves as a tool for capturing the value of IP and exchanging it for traffic. When it is minted as an NFT, the market value and popularity can reflect the value of the IP, and its value circulates with NFT transactions. Furthermore, authorization is also a fundamental form of protection for IP rights.
Growth Loop: On-chain value and traffic value can be converted mutually. When authorization gains traffic to an IP, it means the value of the IP increases, which, in turn, enhances the value of the authorization. This leads to an increase in the ability to exchange for traffic, creating a growth loop for the IP.
Incentive Model: Organizations that acquire authorized NFTs can drive traffic to the original IP by creating derivatives. As the value of authorized NFTs increases with the value of the original IP, the effort put in by these authorization holders to drive traffic to the original IP is essentially an investment in themselves. This incentive-compatible stakeholder capitalism model initiates the growth loop of nodes and is crucial in addressing the core issues.
Value Network: Each derivative can also be considered an authorizing entity, and derivatives can have their derivatives. As IPs authorize and drive traffic to each other, a value network emerges with works as nodes, authorization as edges, and the value of nodes can be captured, calculated, and circulated.
Network Effects: Since each node's value is backed by actual traffic and has a growth loop, we can assume that the value of the entire network is real and growing, with clear network node effect barriers, rather than heading towards a Ponzi scheme.
Shareholders for All: With an incentive-compatible foundation among works and within each work, blockchain is used to trace the contribution of each co-author in the collaborative mode for a single work, ultimately ensuring that all participants in the network receive their deserved share.