Owning Your IP Collectively

From control → collaboration

The Big Picture:
For decades, creative industries have run on extraction — artists signing away rights for exposure or access.
But a new wave of creators is reclaiming their power by owning intellectual property (IP) collectively, using open licenses, shared governance, and transparent contracts.

It’s not about “protecting” your work from others — it’s about liberating it together.

Step 1: Use Creative Commons Licensing

Why it matters:
Creative Commons (CC) lets you decide how your work can be used — whether others can remix, share, or commercialize it.
You control the terms, not a platform or publisher.

Best picks for collectives:

CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution + Non-Commercial + ShareAlike — ideal for co-ops or media networks.
CC0: Public domain — for creators prioritizing access and community use.
CC BY: Requires attribution only, ideal for journalists and open educators.

These licenses turn creativity into an ecosystem — not a marketplace.

Step 2: Avoid Predatory Publishing & Distribution Deals

Red flags to watch for:

“Work-for-hire” language (you lose all copyright).
Perpetual or exclusive licensing clauses.
Promises of “exposure” instead of equity.
Lack of transparency in royalties or audience data.

Better options:

Co-op-owned platforms: Means TV, Resonate, Ampled — shared ownership, shared profits.
Smart contracts: Automate royalties and attribution using blockchain tools (e.g., Mirror, Zora, Lens).
Rights reversion: Always include a clause that lets you reclaim your work after a defined period.

Think of your creative rights as a renewable resource — not a one-time deal.

⚖️ Step 3: Balance Shared Rights & Individual Control

How collective IP works:

Shared rights: Co-owned works (e.g., films, podcasts, or albums) are managed by group agreements that define how revenue and decisions are split.
Individual rights: Each creator retains authorship and moral credit for their unique contributions.
IP Charters: Cooperative “constitutions” that outline credit, ownership, and redistribution rules.

Why it works:
It balances autonomy and accountability — creators co-own the legacy without erasing individual identity.

Co-ownership isn’t about control — it’s about continuity.

The Bottom Line

Owning your IP collectively transforms creative work from a product into a public good.
It builds independence from exploitative platforms and aligns art with ethics.

When creators own their stories together, they don’t just survive — they build the commons.

Join the Movement
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