The Future of IP: Story Protocol Bridges Blockchain, AI, and Creative Rights
One of blockchain’s most useful frontiers is intellectual property (IP), which is not digital art but rather programmable infrastructure. It acts as a link between creative rights, gaming, and AI. In this regard, the firm that created the Story Network, Story Protocol, was founded in February 2025 to become the “IP layer of the Internet.” The company, led by a16z, raised $54 million in 2023 and an additional $80 million in 2024 before launching a layer-1 blockchain specifically designed for that purpose. For real-time, on-chain revenue distribution, it makes possible IP Assets (tokenized works), Programmable IP Licenses (PILs), and a Royalty Module.
We built Story to make intellectual property programmable across mediums. Whether it’s AI-generated data, virtual assets, or film IP, creators should have a transparent way to license and monetize their work.
Andrea Muttoni, President and Chief Product Officer of Story
On-Chain IP Nears a Cultural Breakthrough — Not Just a Technical One
On-chain IP is quickly gaining traction, with over $80 trillion in creative assets globally. It is becoming a market layer that links AI platforms, businesses, and innovators. More than 200 teams and 20 million IP registrations for data, gaming, and entertainment applications are already hosted by Story.
There won’t be a single inflection point for on-chain IP because intellectual property keeps evolving. We’ve built Story to evolve in parallel — with integrations across AI, gaming, and Hollywood — so creators can track and license works directly. The real inflection point may not be raw numbers but a cultural moment — like a remix of BTS art turned into a game with automated revenue sharing via Story. When millions use on-chain IP without realizing it’s Web3, that’s when the shift has happened.
Muttoni
This opinion is consistent with the 2024 World Intellectual Property Report from WIPO, which points out that less than ten economies still own the majority of the world’s IP capacity. It further states that institutional, not technical, integration is still the foundation of digital IP marketplaces. Tokenized IPs’ turning point can be as dependent on harmonizing policies as it is on product uptake.
Real-Time Royalties: The Next Big Leap for Independent Artists
Through a series of intermediaries, traditional royalty schemes like ASCAP compensate creators on a quarterly basis. Story seeks to update that procedure.
Today, royalties flow through opaque intermediaries and take months to reach creators. On Story, programmable royalties settle in seconds, not months — and move globally without friction. That’s transformative for independent artists and emerging markets.
Muttoni
However, if governance and liquidity buffers are not up to speed, real-time tokenized settlement may increase systemic risk, as the IMF‘s 2025 Fintech Note cautions. Although instant payout has great potential, it can surpass regulation if protections are not in place. The integration of Story with regulated financial railroads may be essential to its long-term viability.
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