If your book or books have been pirated, stolen or used for AI/machine learning purposes.
Then read this blog.
Let's understand what Metaverse and Web3 are first.
Metaverse is a virtual-reality (virtually enhanced digital reality) space in which users can immerse and interact with a computer-generated environment. There are other users (humans). And before you think it is similar to VR games, let me tell you that metaverse is much more than that. It is a virtual life, that you can live like the real one.
Yes, that day has arrived.
Web3 - is an internet evolution where user controls the exchange of information.
Let's now learn how these two relate to authors.
Books are stolen, pirated or used for AI learning when an author or publication distribute books soliciting ARC readers. Or if the book is enrolled in KU program on Amazon.
Now, Amazon is not going to anything about it. Because we live in an unprotected digital world. If information or data files are not sent via proper channels, it could fall in the hands of people who love to do charity by giving away someone else's stuff.
You want to do charity? How about you give your work for free. Right? Only makes sense.
Sadly, in today's world, when you share information with the others digitally, there is you, the person who will accept it, and then there is a third party or parties in the middle.
Let's say, you want your book to be read in advance by this person you don't know personally. You simply have their email address and social media profile. But you still send your hard work to them in hopes of getting free feedback and create a reader base.
Don't be alarmed yet, because some do what they claim to do as ARC readers. They give you honest feedback and follow you for more such opportunities in the future.
However, there are others, who take it and post it on websites, to be read for free. Or they give it to someone who runs such websites, where legitimate content, that belongs to others, is posted for free consumption.
How would you know who did this to you when you have distributed your ARC to more than one person? You can't. It is not only hard to investigate this cybercrime that no one cares about if you are an indie author. But it is also impossible to find out who conned you because of the way internet works today.
Why?
Most websites don't verify your legitimacy or connect your virtual presence with your physical reality. Because it doesn’t link two transactions that might be related... Such as your book that was digitally stolen but legitimately procured.
With Web3, everything is blockchain-based. Meaning, your ARC receivers are directly bound by a chain of information that connects them to you, your book, and the person they sell it to.
In Amazon's case, it will be by connecting who all consumed and downloaded your product where you didn’t claim DRM or digital rights for your work.
With Web3, they cannot take your information and run with it, without you getting an update. Because blockchain assigns a unique, unchangeable, and verifiable identity to every transaction that is tied to a real person and can be traced to the dot. A thief cannot take your book and end the transaction there if they start another with your book. Your book will have a unique number assigned to it, and wherever it goes it will update the previous chain of events.
Is Web3 technology here? Not yet.
But blockchain is. So, we're getting there.
Also, how is Metaverse related to authors? Well, Metaverse is what fiction books offer, an escape from the real world. It is learning from your books, aiming to offer desired reality to its consumers.
Confused yet? Read my book i$ubscribe, to see why we will subscribe to this virtually enhanced digital reality unknowingly.