Safe Creative has been working for the last few years with the Content Authenticity Initiative to help introduce new authenticity safeguards and transparency in content creations.

The coalition that fosters the C2PA standard, and that involves companies like Adobe, BBC, Microsoft, OpenAI, Google, Nikon, Leica and many more, is building momentum and incorporating a wide variety of actors, institutions and companies to bring the much-needed transparency to works published online. The idea is that people are able to spot the CR logo in images, videos, texts, sound and other media, click on them and from there get an overview of how the content was created, edited or altered.

In the age where the provenance of content is under question and constant scrutiny, Safe Creative has been the first online registration to bring practical ways to document how works are created and now is the first private technology based Copyright Registration and Certification platform to be verified as a compliant Content Credentials Validator.

Works that users upload with valid Content Credentials to be registered to Safe Creative, will display the CR logo at the public registration page. This information will also be shown if the work is published in Creators.

Showing transparency and clear information at all stages, together with the certification of the creative process, helps minimize the effects of fake news and miss and disinformation. We will continue collaboration with CAI and C2PA to introduce new features for all of our users.

The post Safe Creative is officially a Content Credentials Validator appeared first on Safe Creative Blog.

Some of the brightest minds specializing in copyright and new technology were able to share insights, information and ideas, surrounding the most important copyright law and technology companies need to tackle today.

Challenges of AI

It’s well known that copyright faces a huge challenge concerning, of course, AI especially and much of the discussion, debate and proposals have been around this specific area. But not only that, we were able to discuss and talk about many other important issues, such as royalties, streaming fraud, user protection, litigation and licensing.

There were many ideas to process, but some important points are that we must wait for many of the rulings related to the use of content for AI training, and the competitive landscape now and in the future and this might take years. Also, that there’s an urgent need to balance both copyright protection and innovation, especially when AI is being used as a geopolitical matter that might be of vital importance in a competitive world with increasing regional tensions.

There’s, of course, the fact that while AI is being challenged in court, technological advances are fast and might leave some conclusions or measures obsolete almost immediately or challenged by new ones, thus it’s important to recall similar situations in the past. Also provenance, authenticity, copyright registration and standardization were concepts very much mentioned as key factors to take into consideration.

Moving forward

Most importantly is to know that the key experts and advisors in the field are committed to bringing their valued knowledge to help find the right balance between all stakeholders the best way possible.

And last, but not least, we need to make a special mention of Fordham University School of Law, the hosts at The Copyright Society, Daniel Cooper and Bill Rosenblatt, and the band that played during the networking reception: Crude Humble & Obvious. That was a blast.

The post 16th Copyright and Technology Conference in NYC appeared first on Safe Creative Blog.

The Challenge

From the need to regulate the responsibility of the misuse of AI, to other forms of disinformation in the digital era, to the licensing negotiations to train with creators works, going through the standardization of systems to bring trust to human, mixed human and AI and IA content all over.

After thinking for a some time about the Content Credentials, one key is that the main “publishing” platforms, adopt the display of this information by default while trying to keep the CR information resilient. That will be the turning point for massive adoption. I can imagine a moment where unless there’s a valid CR, we should always be extra careful.

This might not be as relevant for content creators as it is for journalists, specially in these days, but there are many instances in which creators will also be in need of proving how they created their original works and the amount of alteration or aid from AI has been used, if any. We already provide a creative process certification and AI disclosure documentation to be enhanced in the future, but all these tools together with hashtag#contentcredentials can help us maintain the human connection and the empathy we so much need to preserve for the future.

An The Future

Redundancy, consistency and durability will be key. It’s a long road ahead, but with the members of this coalition, it will be a great adventure for sure.

(PS. As you probably can tell, no AI has been used to write this.

The post Content Credentials to enhance provenance appeared first on Safe Creative Blog.

Over the past few months, we’ve implemented a series of important changes to the platform. The goal of is to improve the experience for all users, enhancing registration and introducing comments in Creators.

New Features for Creators

• Interaction on works: You can now comment and reply to comments on creators’ works. Additionally, you can enable email notifications to receive alerts about these comments in real time or periodically (daily or weekly).
• Showcasing works: We’ve streamlined the process to submit works for exhibition directly from your list of registered works in Safe Creative. Now it is faster and easier.
• Image protection: Images now include a visible watermark and can no longer be downloaded from the gallery preview.

Safe Creative Registration Process

• Work registration: We’ve redesigned the process to make it more intuitive, organized, and clear. You can now: Register a single work or multiple works via a dropdown menu, opt out of AI training for your works, and adjust other AI related parameters.
• Edits and corrections: The editing, rectification, and version management of registrations have been adapted to the new system for greater convenience.

We’re Still Working!

We’re actively developing new features and working to simplify them. From the management of works published on Safe Creative, to the enhancing of user exhibition profiles.

The post Enhanced registration and comments in Creators appeared first on Safe Creative Blog.

Due to changes in Google’s policies, starting from December the 31st 2024, the function for automatic registration from Google Drive and Google Photos will no longer be available. This change is beyond our control and is a direct result of changes in access management implemented by Google.

However, we are excited to announce a new feature that compensates for this loss. We are introducing the option to register works directly from Google Drive and Google Photos through our standard registration process. This new feature allows you to select and register one or several works directly from your Google account whenever you need it.

How does it work?

1. Start the registration process as usual.
2. Select to register from Google Drive or Google Photos.
3. Authorize access.Follow the steps to select files or photos.
4. Proceed with the assistant to complete the registration of the works.

We understand that this change means a slight adjustment in how you interact with our services, but we are confident that the new tool will be extremely useful and effective. Additionally, we would like to remind you that the automatic registration service from Dropbox and Feeds RSS continue to operate without interruption and are available for all our personal and corporate subscriptions.

At Safe Creative, we continue to be dedicated to constantly improving and adapting to changes in the digital environment to continue effectively protecting the copyright of our creative communities.

Screens when selecting Google Photos:

The post Important Changes to Work Registration from Google Drive and Google Photos appeared first on Safe Creative Blog.

• We are working on adding more tools of this kind.
• This option can be declared for each work individually, for several, or for all works, and will also be displayed for the works you showcase on Creators.
• An explicit statement in natural language and metadata is included.

The Challenge of the generative AI

Generative AI presents enormous challenges and has sparked an intense debate that is currently unfolding and will continue for years to come.

While it seems clear that generative AI companies are here to stay, it is essential that they adapt to copyright laws, regulations, and the expressed decisions of the authors whose original works are used to train their models.

One of the proposals being considered in many settings is that AI companies should compensate and/or properly credit both the authors and the works used in their models. They must also respect the wishes of those authors who do not want their works to be used for AI training, or those who are open to allowing it under conditions of remuneration or proper credit.

This is where Safe Creative now allows authors to indicate, for each registration or all at once, whether they want their works to be used by generative AI companies to train their models, or not.

Works can be in four different states:

1. This work cannot be made available to AI systems: Use for training is not allowed.
2. AI systems will only access the work with prior agreement: Use is not allowed without the author’s prior agreement with the AI company.
3. This work is allowed to be accessed by AI systems: Use of the work for AI model training is allowed.
4. No declaration has been made: No specific stance is indicated either way.

Additionally, it is possible to apply one of the first three described states to all works where no declaration has been made.

If either of the first two options is selected, the metadata proposed by DeviantArt will be included to prevent generative AI from using the work. In addition, a visible statement in natural language is included. In the case of allowing usage, the metadata is not included, but the registration will still be marked with a visible statement in natural language.

All declarations include the date and time when they were made.

The information declared on Safe Creative also appears in the works displayed on Creators

For several months, we have been working on adapting the Creators platform to showcase creator profiles and their best works, based on the feedback we’ve received. That’s why we have added the option for the information declared in works registered on Safe Creative to also be visible on Creators. This way, Creators adds an extra layer of security, displaying works according to the artists’ preferences regarding generative AI.

More Tools Coming in the Future

This is an important and necessary step toward being transparent and ensuring that the voices of original creators are heard.

We will continue working to improve this and other systems, complementing the tools that Safe Creative has been offering to creators worldwide since 2007.

The post New: AI Availability Statement appeared first on Safe Creative Blog.

What’s new?

1. Better folder navigation: Organizing your creative process is now easier than ever. You can easily browse through your folders and subfolders, clearly visualizing all stages of your work’s development.
2. Space to upload or create files: Once you select a folder, you’ll find a dedicated space to upload creative process files. Additionally, you can write and save texts directly on the platform, such as notes, ideas, or drafts, which will be registered as part of your process.
3. Complete file listing: In each folder, you’ll have access to a list of all the files related to that project, giving you full control over the different stages of your creation.

Real-world use cases

These enhancements are designed to meet the needs of creators in any artistic or professional field. Here are some examples of how artists from various disciplines can take advantage of these new features:

• Visual artists on the go: Imagine you’re a painter or sculptor working from your studio. Now, you can use your mobile phone to capture videos or photos of your work’s progress as you create. With our enhanced system, those records can be saved directly into a creative process folder, making it easy to document every brushstroke or stage of your sculpture.
• Writers on desktop computers: For authors, the creative process often involves writing drafts, making corrections, or taking notes. With the new folder functionality, writers can keep a creative process folder open in their browser, uploading their notes, chapter fragments, and preliminary versions of their work as they write. Everything is perfectly organized and protected.
• Illustrators working in stages: If you’re an illustrator and work in stages (initial sketches, coloring, detailing), you can upload each of these steps to your creative process folder. With this new functionality, you not only have access to a clear view of your progress but also ensure the protection of each stage of your work.

Benefits for the creator

The new system makes it easier to create a complete and precise record of the evolution of your work, which can be crucial for proving authorship and the development process. Whether you’re working from a desktop computer or a mobile device, the flexibility and security we offer allow you to focus on what really matters: creating.

If you haven’t tried these improvements yet, we encourage you to do so! Protect your creativity from the first draft to the final work, with total convenience from any device.

These enhancements are designed to make the creative process as smooth as your imagination, ensuring that every step is recorded and protected. Don’t wait any longer—try the new system today!

The post Improvements to the Creative Process Registration System: New Features and Better Folder Navigation appeared first on Safe Creative Blog.

“Hi, I came across some of your artwork on ArtStation, and I was quite impressed with what I saw. It’s truly exceptional and I would like to buy some to add to my existing art collection for an upcoming digital exhibition where they would be auctioned as digital collectibles… Before proceeding, may I ask if you have had any previous experience with digital art sales?”

“I am willing to pay 3ETH for each of your works but only as NFTs. Do you know how NFTs work?”

Does it seem like a scam? Yes. Is it? Very much so. But let’s see how it works and what you can do.

Messages like these have been reaching artists’ inboxes for months, on platforms where they host their portfolios and on social media. Someone declares to be very interested in purchasing their work but “only as an NFT”.

The account from which the message is sent might seem legitimate: they may have normal-looking posts, followers… Sometimes it is a facade built by purchasing followers; other times, what you’re seeing is a hacked account.

What is an NFT?

NFT stands for “non-fungible token”. Fungible tokens, such as money, are interchangeable. Two 50-dollar bills are fungible because both have the same value, they are equivalent. Artworks such as sculptures, on the other hand, are non-fungible: they are unique and cannot be exchanged for another of exactly the same value.

However, when an artwork is digital it lacks that “unique” character. For this reason, NFTs use blockchain technology to give the digital file a unique identifier. Blockchain is the same technology used for cryptocurrencies.

This way, although there may be thousands of files of the digital artwork on the Internet, the NFT has a “serial number” that identifies it and its owner. Sometimes, NFTs are sold in such a way that the buyer obtains, along with the file, additional benefits. For example, there are NFTs that represent assets in video games that their owner can use exclusively.

The concept began to develop in 2014, when “monetized graphics” started. But it didn’t start gaining traction until about 3 years later. Although there are cases of NFT sales for millions of dollars, it is a high-risk speculative market. Also, according to the Wall Street Journal (2022) and other media, it’s currently in decline.

Scammers take advantage of the general ignorance about NFTs

The first step of the scam is to offer to buy the works for a very high price. Some artists receive offers of several thousand dollars per work. If the artist responds, it seems that several things can happen, usually revolving around the NFT creation process.

To create an NFT, you need to mint it. This is a process that turns the digital file into a unique blockchain token. This requires paying so-called “gas fees”, which vary in price depending on the platform, current traffic, the file… and are usually paid in cryptocurrencies.

If you inform them that you already sell NFTs with any other service, they reply that they work with a “superior” system or that they are “pioneers in the NFT space”. These are not arguments, since the technology is the same. SafeCreative, for example, allows [generating and selling NFTs from our Creators platform](https://www.safecreative.org/creators/es/faqs/#creators-vender-obras). The minting process in this case has no additional cost; instead, SafeCreative charges a commission on the sale price of the NFT.

Fake minting sites

In some cases, scammers direct their victim to a minting website to create the NFT. The process may cost a hundred or several hundred dollars but, as they offer thousands for the work, it seems like an investment.

The minting site is fake and, once the process is completed, the scammers disappear with the money and personal information: name, surname, credit card number…

If this happens and you are redirected to a website, you can go to Whois.com to find out who the hosting company is and inform them. These alerts usually receive attention and they may remove the site from their servers.

Sending cryptocurrencies

It may also be that the scammer generously offers to do the minting process. For this, they ask the artist to send a certain amount of cryptocurrencies to a crypto wallet, to pay the gas fees. Once the money is received, the scammer transfers it elsewhere and is never seen again.

Do not respond to these messages

Our advice upon receiving these requests is to ignore them, report the account, and block the user. NFT collectors do not operate in this way; instead, they buy directly on the sites where the NFTs are sold.

Thanks to the creatives who have contacted us to share your experience with this scam. Feel free to reach out if we missed anything or if you have received any other suspicious communication.

Sources: Art Business with Ness, Artsology, Artsy Shark, Reddit (multiple threads)

The post Someone offers thousands for my work but only as an NFT, is it a scam? appeared first on Safe Creative Blog.

Safe Creative not only registers and protects works, but also becomes an essential and continuous support for creators in the digital ecosystem, offering everything from up-to-date information on Intellectual Property to daily tools to manage and protect your copyrights.

New Features and Tools:

1. Intuitive and User-Friendly Design:

We have redesigned our platform to make it more accessible and easier to navigate, allowing you to focus on what really matters: your creativity.

2. Advanced Security for Your Works:

With new security enhancements, we ensure the protection of your rights from the moment you start creating, making sure your works are safe from plagiarism and potential unauthorized uses.

3. Registration of the Entire Creative Process:

You can not only register your final work, but we also provide tools to document and register each stage of the creative process, starting from one single sketch.

4. Exposure and Sales:

We facilitate the exposure and promotion of both your creator profile and your works. Through our platform we provide tools that help you showcase and sell your work, and secure commissions as a professional.

5. Updates and News on Copyright:

Stay up to date with the latest developments in legislation and practices regarding copyright through our blog and and soon to be launched TIPS in English. We’ll provide crucial information that will help you understand the current state of copyright and many updates on this topic that we will be announcing.

Looking Together Towards the Future:

This is just the first step. We are committed to continuing to improve and expand our tools and services. We will keep adding features that meet your needs and further enrich your experience at Safe Creative.

Unlock the Full Potential of the Safe Creative Platform:

We invite you to visit and explore the new Safe Creative platform. ¡Register your next work, try our new tools! Become part of a community of creators who value and protect their creations. Check prices and…

With Safe Creative, you secure not only the existence of your works but also their bright future. Explore, create, and protect with us!

The post Welcome to the New Safe Creative: More Than a Registration, a Comprehensive Platform for Creators appeared first on Safe Creative Blog.

When do works enter the public domain?

The question is usually when works enter the public domain. And here things get interesting because there is no single universal term in all countries, and in fact, over the years these terms have changed globally or country by country with some changes being retroactive and others not.

In general and according to the World Intellectual Property Organization, the current minimum term would be 50 years, but each nation can, if it wishes, extend these terms.

This is why we find quite extreme cases, with countries having 100% more years of protection.

The case of Mexico vs. other nations

In Mexico, works enter the public domain 100 years after the death of their author or the date on which they became known in the case of posthumous works. This term is one of the longest in the world. In addition, the determination of whether a work is in the public domain is further complicated as there have been different terms of protection throughout Mexico’s history, including periods of 20, 25, 30, 30, 50, 75 and 100 years, depending on the time and nature of the work. Source.

On the contrary, there are countries where the term for a work to enter the public domain is 50 years after the author’s death. Some examples are Canada, El Salvador and Panama. In these countries, attributable works enter the public domain 50 years after the death of the authors. Source.

For the United States, works published between 1926 and 1963 with renewed rights enter the public domain 95 years after publication; in other cases, 70 years after the author’s death. Finally, in Spain, works by authors who died before December 7, 1987 enter the public domain 80 years after their death, and for those who died after that date, the term is 70 years. Source.

The Challenge

Determining which works are in the public domain can be a real challenge, especially because it can happen that something is in the public domain in one country but not in another. In other words, if a work enters the public domain after 50 years in Canada, it will not enter the public domain in Mexico for another 50 years. So can we be sure in assuming that if the author has been dead for 100 years it is certain that it will be in the public domain? Well, not really, because as we have said in Mexico, for example, the period applies from the moment of being known in the case of posthumous works.

Not only that, usually translations or modern editions of works whose original version is in the public domain may be subject to copyright so that it can be used will be, in any case, the original work, being works published 100 years ago or more.

Conclusion

The public domain is the longest period of a work’s existence, but it does not begin until many decades after the death of the author or the publication of the work. This domain is huge but sometimes very difficult to define or understand how it can be used or accessed, so it is important to improve its functioning. It is always advisable to consult with experts or to be clear about the dates and editions of works, in order to know how to act in each case, depending on the legislation.

The post Public domain in Mexico and other curiosities appeared first on Safe Creative Blog.