2025 Copyright Innovation Challenge The first open challenge that invites startups, developers, designers, legal experts, creatives and researchers across Europe to reimagine the next generation of copyright solutions—open, Everything starts with a spark. An idea. A vision. A line of poetry, a beat, a sketch. It’s the purest expression of who we are—and what we can become. Creativity is the heartbeat of human progress. Leonardo da Vinci wrote his notes in mirror script. He hid his inventions in code. Why? Because even then, he understood that once an idea is shared, it can be used in ways beyond his control. Protecting creativity exists for centuries. Today’s digital environment offers creators unprecedented reach, but also calls for greater clarity around how works are used. By applying metadata and digital identifiers, creators can connect their identity to their work, manage permissions, and access new licensing channels. Copyright in this context becomes a practical tool: it helps ensure credit, enables authorisation, and supports fair remuneration. Today, creation is borderless. One post, one click, and your work is everywhere. Digital platforms have opened new avenues for expression, enabling writers, artists, developers, musicians, and designers to share their work directly with others. "Did you know that, in Europe, 1 in 3 creators is self-employed(*)." It is essential to offer them tools that protect visibility, attribution and fair use of their creative work." (*) According to a 2022 report by the European Union's statistical office, 31.7% of Europe's cultural and creative workers are self-employed, compared to 14% in the economy as a whole (Source) What if creators across sectors and income levels had access to a trusted, open infrastructure for proving authorship, registering ownership, transferring rights, and exploring licensing? Can we improve copyright infrastructure in Europe to meet the demands of digital creation? Could this help protect innovation and sustain cultural work?
We’re launching the 2025 Copyright Innovation Challenge to explore ideas for the next generation of copyright solutions We’re calling on Startups, Developers, Designers, Legal experts, Creatives, Researchers to co-create digital rights infrastructure using Web3 technologies, taking into account existing copyright industry standards. We are calling you to build solutions that support creators with: Authorship, Co-authorship, Ownership Verification How can I prove that I am the original creator or co-creator of a work? Rights Attribution, Transfer How can I ensure that my rights are properly attributed, and how can I securely transfer those rights to someone else? Secondary Market Licensing or Resale How can I resell or relicense my work in secondary markets to generate more revenue? First Public Disclosure Registration How can I register or record the first time my work was made public to protect my rights? Dispute Resolution What options do I have if someone disputes my ownership or use of a work? Search Mechanism to Discover and Identify Rightsholders How can I easily find out who owns the rights to a work I want to use? Licensing Automation How can I automate the licensing process to save time and reduce manual work? Contribute and learn. Develop a real-world case study that addresses pressing copyright challenges and supports the rights of European creators in the digital age. Visibility at EU-level. Showcase your work through targeted EU promotion, with opportunities for institutional exposure and direct engagement with policymakers and stakeholders. Access Expert Support. Benefit from structured support throughout the challenge, including pitch coaching, technical guidance, and mentoring from policy and technical experts. Submit your application
July 2025 - September 2025 Registration is quick and easy. All you have to do is answer a few short questions about your idea (less than 1500 words in total). And that is it! After a brief review of your application, you will be registered for the challenge and invited to a kick-off webinar. Info session webinar September 2025
European Commission officials will provide:
Pilot your solution October 2025 - January 2026 Over a three-month period, the shortlisted applicants will refine or develop their solutions. At the end of this phase, all finalists will present their solutions and demonstrate them in an online pitch session. A jury will select the top three teams and invite them to a final pitch in a flagship event. Pitch and stand out at EU level February 2026 Selected finalists will pitch at a high-level EU event. This is not just a technical problem. It’s a call to recognise that creators matter—and that their work deserves protection, recognition, and reward. Join us in designing innovative solutions for copyright to serve the people who create. 2025 Copyright Innovation Challenge
How can web3 support European
From July 2025 to February 2026
creator-centric, interoperable.Creativity fuels innovation.
Protecting creativity exists for centuries.
The creative landscape is changing
Yet, this fluidity also makes it harder to track origin, credit, or usage conditions.
What if...
What if...
you could be part of this?
The 2025 Copyright Innovation Challenge.
—open, creator-centric, interoperable. What do we expect?
Your solution can target one or more aspects of the creator's journey.
What we offer.
How to participate?
Let’s redefine copyright for a new Generation.
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Overview
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