Digital Speech Acts Retain Control of Copyright with People, Not Platforms
A new paper proposes that digital speech acts, defined as cryptographically signed content created on a user's own device, should retain copyright control with individuals rather than centralized platforms. The authors argue that existing U.S. legal precedents, such as Burrow-Giles and Feist, support copyright protection for these acts, as they involve volitional creative choices and meet the fixation requirement. This approach, they contend, is crucial for preserving copyright in grassroots platforms where users control their data and for enabling digital sovereignty. AI