지적재산권에 대한 블록체인 기술의 활용 및 한계

A blockchain is a ledger or a database in which transaction data are authenticated by a node connected by P2P, and are stored in blocks chained each other. Main elements of blockchain technologies are P2P, a distributed ledger, and cryptography (hashing, digital signature and public key cryptography). If applied to intellectual property, blockchain technologies play the role of providing solid evidence of creatorship, facilitating the transfer of intellectual property ownership or the licensing of intellectual property through smart contracts and asset-backed tokens, minimizing transaction costs in licensing and paying loyalties, and efficient management of intellectual property rights. While blockchain technologies may play an important role in intellectual property, there are various limitations, and requirements needed to met in deploying blockchain technologies. For example, the unsolved problem of scalability makes it not possible to upload copyright works, but to upload only their hash value on the blockchain. It means that a copyright owner cannot transfer copyrighted works through a blockchain, but can transfer them through traditional methods like a P2P file sharing. This paper indicates that there are many obstacles in deploying blockchain technologies while they play an important role in intellectual property. It explains how blockchain technologies work, and the role played by blockchain technologies in intellectual property. It also gives a few projects under development which apply blockchain technologies to intellectual property. It indicates that there are some limitations of applying blockchain technologies to intellectual property. Despite their limitations, blockchain technologies become mainstream, and they may be applied to intellectual property in some respects. In conclusion, this paper suggests that Korea needs to develop blockchain technologies and take into consideration applying them to intellectual property.