WEB3, AI & IP

A brief guide to navigating branding and intellectual property protection in the decentralized digital era.

“Creativity, identity, and ownership, the pillars of intellectual property, [are] entering a new, decentralized landscape,” writes Leshchenko in her slim nonfiction debut. “And the law, as always, [is] trying to catch up.” The author, an IP expert, clearly positions her book to help fill that gap between the emerging reality and the scope of the law. In these pages, she lays out practical advice on intellectual property in the modern era and on building what she refers to as an IP toolkit, an essential infrastructure for securing a brand in a world that’s increasingly obsessed with branding. She describes, in addition to the usual registering of a trademark, various digital tools to protect it, such as WIPO Brand Monitor, TrademarkNow, Google Alerts, and Web3 techniques for tracking NFT (non-fungible token) marketplaces in the realm of blockchains. Leshchenko advises readers to make use of nondisclosure agreements and licensing templates and to keep all contracts, drafts, and screenshots of intellectual property in secure cloud storage with time stamps that can be referred to in litigation—all in the service of creating what she refers to as the shield of professionalism: “It is not glamorous, but it is what separates inspired amateurs from creative entrepreneurs.” The author clarifies the various elements of the modern trademark portfolio, specifying the ways in which creators should protect themselves legally in a context in which ownership is a matter of code. At every stage, Leshchenko writes with force and clarity about the new world she’s charting, effectively delivering the essential lessons of Web3. The author’s most winning aspect is her cheery emphasis on the human element amid all the talk of cutting-edge tech: “In an economy driven by algorithms, authenticity becomes the rarest luxury,” she writes. “And that, paradoxically, is what gives human creativity its worth.” The combination of practical wisdom and human optimism is irresistible.

A compact but comprehensive overview of how to digitally protect your creativity.