The Copyright Value Gap
Understanding the disconnect between content creation and value capture in the creative economy
The Challenge of Modern Copyright
Less than 10% of digital assets are properly registered, protected, or monetized through established copyright frameworks, resulting in estimated annual losses exceeding $2.3 trillion.
Challenges with Traditional Copyright Systems
- Current registration systems might be easy enough to access but provide no real security, do not ensure rightful royalty payments, and tend to create the need for complex legal processes once the music is used.
- Jurisdictional variations in copyright law create global inconsistencies
- High administrative costs limit access for independent creators
- Limited enforcement mechanisms against infringement
- Opaque and lengthy royalty distribution chains
Consequences for the Creative Economy
- Significant financial losses for creators
- Business disputes over ownership and rights
- Lack of investor mechanisms for copyright assets
- Proliferation of content with unclear ownership
- Copyright laundering and AI-assisted infringement
The Scale of the Problem
Lost Revenue
Annual losses due to inadequate copyright protection and monetization:
Unprotected Works
Digital creative works without proper registration or protection:
Royalty Delays
The time typically required for royalty payments to reach creators:
The Digital Transformation Challenge
The digital revolution has fundamentally changed how creative content is produced, distributed, and consumed, but copyright systems have failed to keep pace.
Global Distribution
Content crosses borders instantly, but copyright enforcement remains jurisdictionally limited.
Remix Culture
Digital creation often involves remixing and building upon existing works, creating complex ownership questions.
AI Generation
AI systems trained on copyrighted works create new challenges for attribution and compensation.
Platform Dominance
Digital platforms capture significant value while creators receive diminishing returns.