How a16z’s New NFT Licenses Hope to Solve Rights Problems for Creators and Buyers - Ep. 391

Unchained

Miles Jennings, general counsel at a16z crypto, talks about its new “can’t be evil” NFT licenses and how they help to solve many problems within the NFT industry. Show highlights:

• what “can’t be evil” NFT licenses are and what problems they solve
• what can these licenses achieve for content creators
• which are the five rights that the licenses address
• whether the NFT licenses help resolve hate speech issues for creators
• why a16z described its licenses as “can’t be evil”
• how these licenses will be enforced
• how anyone buying NFTs should now be able to understand what they are buying
• why previous attempts to create standardized NFT license didn’t succeed
• why Miles thinks these new NFT licenses are going to succeed

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Guest Miles

Twitter: https://twitter.com/milesjennings

“Can’t be evil” NFT licenses:

• a16z article: https://a16zcrypto.com/introducing-nft-licenses/
• Miles’ thread: https://twitter.com/milesjennings/status/1564991860824674305?s=20&t=pJEE9HfA9DnC_9PlsGelEw
• Wiki article: https://www.nftstandards.wtf/NFT/NFT+License

Previous coverage on Unchained:

• What legal rights NFTs come with: https://unchainedpodcast.com/what-exactly-do-you-get-when-you-buy-an-nft-three-lawyers-discuss/
• Understanding intellectual property rights with NFTs: https://unchainedpodcast.com/excited-about-your-bored-ape-or-crypto-punk-make-sure-you-understand-your-ip-rights/
• Punk 6529 on how rights helped Bored Apes succeed: https://unchainedpodcast.com/punk6529-on-the-significance-of-bored-ape-yacht-club-and-cryptopunks/

IP issues around prominent NFT collections:

• Galaxy Digital report on NFT owners being misled about rights: https://decrypt.co/107827/bored-apes-moonbirds-misled-buyers-nft-ip-rights-galaxy-digita
• CryptoPunks gets IP rights: https://decrypt.co/107184/as-cryptopunks-nft-owners-get-commercial-rights-yuga-hopes-to-secure-their-legacy-as-artwork
• Bored Apes’ more permissive license helps it become more valuable than Crypto Punks: https://www.thedefiant.io/bored-apes-yacht-club-cryptopunks-copyright-fight
• Moonbirds controversy ignites after move to CC0 license: https://www.thedefiant.io/moonbirds-cc0-license-nfts

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