Can Story Protocol Tokenize the $70 Trillion IP Market? | Jason Zhao
Apr 29, 2025
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In this engaging discussion, Jason Zhao, co-founder of Story Protocol, shares his vision of revolutionizing the $70 trillion intellectual property market through tokenization. He explores how blockchain can make IP liquid and accessible, potentially benefiting creators, DAOs, and big studios alike. The conversation touches on eliminating legal hurdles and reimagining ownership rights in the digital age. Zhao critiques traditional IP models and imagines a streamlined, programmable future that fosters creativity and inclusive access for all.
Story Protocol aims to revolutionize the $70 trillion IP market by enabling efficient registration and licensing through blockchain technology.
Smart contracts under Story Protocol streamline IP management, removing traditional legal hurdles and allowing creators to retain more control over their work.
The podcast emphasizes the necessity of a balanced IP system to incentivize creativity, especially as AI influences the content creation landscape.
Deep dives
Tokenizing Intellectual Property on the Blockchain
The concept of tokenizing intellectual property (IP) on a blockchain aims to revolutionize how creators manage and monetize their work. Story Protocol intends to create a digital marketplace where IP rights can be easily registered, licensed, and tracked on-chain, making the process significantly more efficient than traditional methods. By utilizing smart contracts, creators can set the terms for how their IP is used and paid for, streamlining what is typically a costly and complex legal process involving lawyers and lengthy negotiations. This is designed not only for existing IP but also aims to foster new, innovative forms of creative expression in the digital age.
Addressing Inefficiencies in Current IP Systems
The traditional IP landscape is rife with inefficiencies, making it difficult for creators, especially those at the independent level, to protect and monetize their work effectively. Current systems often require significant legal resources, with costs that can be prohibitively high, effectively locking out many potential creators from entering the market. Story Protocol seeks to lower these barriers by providing a framework where low-cost, transparent licensing can occur, enabling creators to focus on their work rather than being bogged down by legal complexities. By making IP management more accessible, the protocol hopes to empower a larger number of creators to participate in and benefit from the digital economy.
The Role of AI and IP in Future Innovation
As artificial intelligence continues to influence content creation, the relationship between IP and AI becomes increasingly relevant. The podcast highlights the potential consequences of neglecting IP rights in favor of unrestricted access to creative works, suggesting that doing so could stunt innovation in the long term. If individuals are not incentivized to create original content due to an abundance of free resources or lack of copyright enforcement, the quality and diversity of new ideas could diminish. Thus, establishing a balanced IP system might not only protect creators but also encourage a more vibrant and diverse creative ecosystem overall.
Enforcement Challenges and IP Legitimacy
One major challenge discussed in the podcast is the enforcement of IP rights within the Story Protocol framework. While the protocol facilitates the declaration and management of IP, actual enforcement—especially against infringement—still falls under the purview of legal systems that vary by jurisdiction. However, by registering IP rights on a blockchain, creators can provide provenance and a clearer legal standing that may strengthen their cases in potential disputes. This proactive documentation helps creators by increasing their legitimacy and potential damages in case of infringement, though practical enforcement will still necessitate traditional legal action.
Building a Decentralized Ecosystem for IP
The envisioned future of Story Protocol is akin to a decentralized network for IP, much like Visa or MasterCard operates for payments. By creating a two-sided marketplace where creators can register their IP and businesses seek to license these assets, the framework aims to foster widespread participation in the economy of ideas. This model not only allows for easier access to IP but also encourages diverse interactions among various stakeholders, from creators to businesses. Ultimately, the goal is to create an ecosystem that harmonizes the monetization of IP with the influx of new creative content, ensuring a sustainable cycle of innovation.
In this episode, we dive deep with Jason Zhao, co-founder of Story Protocol, on how their new token launch could unlock the $70 trillion intellectual property market. We explore the bold vision of making IP liquid, programmable, and globally accessible — and how crypto-native creators, DAOs, and even major studios could reshape how stories are owned and built.
This might just be crypto's most ambitious attempt at disrupting the media yet.
0:00 Intro
5:48 Why Onchain IP?
16:52 Eliminating Lawyers
24:41 Step One
28:56 Code as Law
38:38 Ownership Protection
45:35 Onchain IP Nuances
53:11 Final Words
56:30 Closing & Disclaimers
