“Non-Physical Rights” — The Future of Our Digital World
Explore the future of ownership rights in the digital realm with us.
Over the course of thousands of years, pieces of our history have been lost to time, forever unrecoverable. In an effort to preserve the past, we continually rebuild, renovate, and maintain works of art, architecture, and other prominent historical objects.
As we continue to progress, restoration and preservation will shift to the next logical phase: the protection of the digital world — a non-degradable environment built for the future.
As it currently stands, the virtual world, commonly referred to as the Metaverse, finds itself in a relatively underdeveloped state in many respects — almost like a digital representation of the Wild West.
That said, the prospects and vision for the Metaverse are exceptionally progressive and, as some say, crucial for our future. Although what we have today is not a true Metaverse (yet), that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t care for it and do our best to help it thrive.
That’s where Zeitls comes in…
Our mission is to improve, build, and pioneer a legal and digital framework for our future in the Metaverse. To accomplish this, we’ve introduced something we refer to as “non-physical rights.”
So what are “non-physical rights”?
Initially, the concept of owning a digital file seemed a bit farfetched, even unrealistic. However, in the presence of the rapid digitalization of everything around us, a completely digital world is not only possible; it’s the next logical step.
Formulated by a reputable law firm, this entirely new set of rights will mirror the ownership rights of the individual in the physical world. These rights do not impose restrictions on the current owner of a given object in the physical world; instead, they’re tailored toward use in the Metaverse. In a realm where lawlessness is rampant, we’re laying the groundwork for the fundamental rights required for a thriving digital future.
In the physical world, nothing changes. But our unique set of rights has no bearing, with little to no impact, on the physical world. Because here, the owner of non-physical rights can only state ownership over an object in the Metaverse. Nothing more, nothing less. The actual object owner retains all ownership rights in accordance with their classical definition, including intellectual property rights and Web2 (non-decentralized) ownership. In the Metaverse, these rights are the exact opposite. As a result, two authentic versions of the same object can exist simultaneously — one in the physical world and one in the virtual world.
Today, in this unregulated market, anyone can, in theory, copy a digital version of the Mona Lisa, mint it on the blockchain, and claim it as the original without any real consequences. This state of the Metaverse is not suitable for mass adaptation. An incident like this would be heartbreaking not only to the potential buyer who was duped, but it would also be detrimental to the Web3 space as a whole.
But no need to worry…
Our non-physical rights will cement the standard for regulation and fairness. With these efforts, we’re marching forward with a step-by-step approach that the people will validate in a DAO-like fashion.
What are the advantages of real objects in a digital environment?
Longevity
As we’ve established, unfortunately, the world as we know it is in a constant state of decay. Although we can slow it down, we can never completely put an end to it. But a digital file does not decay or diminish with time. Even after thousands of years, a digital object will remain in pristine quality, just as it was the day it was created.
Authenticity
Uniqueness is a justified and common concern regarding digital files. Often embodied by the “right click and save” joke, digitally, it is very easy to create a copy of an object that is essentially indistinguishable from the original. Reproductions also exist in the real world; however, they are, naturally, quite hard to create. The answer to the problem of authenticity is solved through the blockchain and public records, including certificates of authenticity.
Through this new technology, the entire back history of a given object is fully traceable by anyone who wishes to do so. Thanks to this, it’s easy to confirm which objects are originals and which are mere copies. Furthermore, we provide certificates of authenticity for all our collections, signed by the owner of the real-world object, so you can be certain that you’re getting a true digital original.
Traceability
Allowing anyone to view a digital object’s history is exceedingly beneficial to the security and safety process when buying, as any fake reproductions or suspicious past activity can be instantly spotted; even more elaborate attempts of muddying the past will be easy to uncover. Such security is crucial when it comes to identifying and authenticating digital originals of the past, present, and future.
Usability
“Usability” in the Metaverse extends far beyond that of the real world. Whereas in the physical world, you may only be able to hang an artifact on the wall, in the Metaverse, you can do that and much more.
You may hang a painting or put a statue on a stand in the Metaverse, just like we do in the physical world. But unlike with physical objects, the binary limitations are lifted. One can become an object and live through it via avatars.
Now, you can not only “pretend” to own and use the object (as in current VR applications), but through the Metaverse, only you will be the one true owner. This piece can become your digital identity, your digital self. Imagine for a moment that you own the digital original of the Mona Lisa. Not only will you possess one of the most coveted works of art, but you can use it as your avatar in the Metaverse — you can become the artwork.
Availability
We believe our history should be accessible to everyone. Traditionally, it has been immensely difficult for private individuals to obtain historically important works of art or other fragments of time with historical significance. Through the digital world, this is now made possible.
Should digital alter-egos exist?
There is an argument that digital replicas aren’t necessary; after all, the real deal already exists, right?
Although this view is understandable, it could be considered short-term thinking. Nothing will likely happen to the Mona Lisa or the Pyramids of Giza, but at the same time, nothing is certain. Unforeseen events could cause damage or render artifacts lost forever. What would we have left?
Digital alter-egos could not only be the last line of defense against the forces of nature, but they could even take on a much different role: the role of discovery.
With physical limitations of distance, finances, and borders, there is no doubt that the vast majority of our population has not yet experienced history first-hand. While, technically speaking, simple copies already exist; however, an authentic, official experience offers an infinitely different understanding and appreciation. Going to a museum full of unapproved reproductions doesn’t sound quite as interesting — the same applies to digital objects. The possibilities are, quite literally, unimaginable.
Doesn’t the future sound exciting?
Proceeds generated from sales through Zeitls will go to caring for real-world pieces and the further development of our mission, including onboarding more collections, expanding our scope of operations, and moving the Metaverse forwards together.
While still in its infancy, non-physical rights are a necessary and essential piece of the puzzle moving forward. Some may not be able to see it yet, and others may not like it, but we can confidently say that, similarly to the start of the internet, the doubters will dwindle with time.
Now is the time to innovate, pioneer, and work toward building the future — a digital future.
This marks the start of our journey, for more information and updates on our first collection, explore our website!
