✅ Master NFT Copyright Law
Understand licensing, fair use, and real-world legal cases
Navigate the complex legal landscape of NFTs
Your Progress
0 / 5 completed📚 NFT Copyright Mastery Summary
🎓 What You've Learned
Ownership vs. Copyright
Token ownership ≠ IP rights. Licenses must explicitly grant commercial rights.
License Models
CC0, Full Commercial, Limited, Personal Use—each has tradeoffs for holders and creators.
Fair Use Doctrine
Four-factor test rarely protects commercial NFT copying. High legal risk.
Legal Precedents
Hermès, BAYC, Nike cases: courts enforce traditional IP law in NFT space.
Infringement Costs
$133k to $1.6M+ in damages. Legal fees often $500k+. One mistake = bankruptcy.
Best Practices
Read licenses, get permissions, use CC0 art, consult lawyers for commercial use.
🎯 Critical Takeaways
Before spending $50k+ on an NFT for commercial use, verify the license grants commercial rights. Many don't.
Fair use is a courtroom defense, not a shield. Commercial NFT copying has lost every major case so far.
Courts treat NFTs like any product. Trademark and copyright laws apply with no special blockchain exemptions.
Projects with explicit terms (BAYC: full rights, Nouns: CC0) avoid disputes. Ambiguity creates legal risk.
"Asking forgiveness" costs $1M+ in damages. Get explicit permission or use CC0/licensed art.
💡 Final Insight
NFT copyright is not a gray area—courts have made it clear. The blockchain doesn't grant special legal status. If you're building commercial projects on NFTs, treat IP rights as seriously as you would in traditional media. Read licenses, consult lawyers, and err on the side of caution. The most successful NFT projects (BAYC, Nouns, Azuki) succeed partly because they have crystal-clear licensing terms that empower holders without legal ambiguity.