Understanding Intellectual Property and Copyright on Zora

Zora is a platform for creators. Most of the content posted here is original work — but because anyone can post, questions about intellectual property (IP) come up.

Important: This article is general guidance, not legal advice. If you're dealing with a specific IP dispute, consider consulting a lawyer who specializes in intellectual property.

If you created it, you're good. Original art, photography, video, music, writing — posting your own work to Zora is straightforward. You retain ownership of what you create.

When you post content to Zora and it becomes a tradeable coin, that doesn't transfer your copyright to anyone else. People who buy coins tied to your content are participating in the market around it — they don't acquire rights to the underlying work itself.

IP infringement on Zora generally looks like:

• Posting someone else's art, photos, or videos as if they're your own, without permission from the creator

• Using copyrighted material (album art, movie stills, branded imagery) as the primary content of a post

• Copying another creator's work with only minor modifications and posting it as original

Zora is a referential, cultural platform. Content that references brands, public figures, or creative works in a commentary or cultural context is common and generally not considered infringement. There's a difference between posting a reaction to a movie and uploading the movie itself.

Zora does not pre-screen content for IP compliance. The platform operates on open, permissionless infrastructure, which means content goes live without prior review.

When a valid IP claim is submitted, Zora reviews it and may take action — including removing the content. This process is governed by Section 12 of Zora's Terms of Service and applicable law, including the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

If your intellectual property is being used on Zora without your permission, you can submit a takedown request:

1. Contact Zora Support at support@zora.co with the subject line IP / DMCA Takedown Request

2. Include the following:

   • Your name and contact information

   • A description of the copyrighted work you believe is being infringed

   • The URL(s) of the content on Zora that you believe infringes your rights

   • A statement that you have a good-faith belief that the use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law

   • A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on their behalf

   • Your physical or electronic signature

3. The T&S team will review your request and take appropriate action, which may include removing the content

Submitting a false or misleading takedown request can have legal consequences. Only submit a claim if you genuinely believe your rights are being infringed.

If someone files an IP claim against content you posted on Zora:

• You may be notified that your content has been reported or removed due to an IP complaint

• You can submit a counter-notice if you believe the claim is incorrect — for example, if you're the original creator, you have permission to use the work, or you believe the claim is invalid. Contact support@zora.co to begin this process

• If content is removed, any coins tied to that content may be affected. Existing holders won't be able to purchase additional coins associated with removed content

"Fair use" is a legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission under certain circumstances — such as commentary, criticism, parody, or education. It's real, but it's complex. Whether something qualifies as fair use depends on multiple factors and is ultimately a legal determination, not something Zora can adjudicate.

If you believe your content falls under fair use and it's been removed, you can raise that in a counter-notice. Be aware that fair use claims are evaluated case-by-case, and what feels fair isn't always what the law considers fair.

If you have questions about IP on Zora or need to submit a takedown request, contact our support team via our help centre or email us at support@zora.co.