Proposal: BlockVibe – A Marketplace and Streaming Platform for Blocklets
Hi ArcBlock Team,
I’d like to propose BlockVibe, a platform that addresses the challenge creators and users face when launching blocklets due to server space and ABT staking.
Context and Need: With the recent influx of submissions to the ArcBlock store and Robert Mao’s comments regarding content-centric blocklets, it’s clear that these blocklets need a dedicated platform. Creators who produce media-focused blocklets (like music, art, and interactive experiences) face the challenge of lacking an easy way to launch and share their work, while users must deal with the friction of staking ABT and manually launching blocklets.
The Challenge: Launching blocklets from private marketplaces currently requires dedicated server space, which creates unnecessary complexity for both creators and users. This can be a significant hurdle for wider adoption of blocklets.
Proposed Solution: BlockVibe: BlockVibe is a marketplace and streaming platform specifically designed to solve this problem. It will continuously host content-centric blocklets, enabling creators to showcase their work and users to instantly stream or interact with blocklets, eliminating the need for manual launching and staking ABT. We have already developed a concept site to showcase this idea in action and demonstrate the feasibility of the platform.
What We’re Asking For: To bring BlockVibe to full functionality, we are requesting six months of free dedicated server space from ArcBlock. This will allow us to continuously host creators’ blocklets and ensure users can access them without needing to launch or stake ABT. By covering this server space, ArcBlock removes the financial strain from us while we build something new and innovative. We believe this period will demonstrate BlockVibe’s value, with the possibility of extending the arrangement if it proves beneficial to the ArcBlock ecosystem.
Value for ArcBlock:
- Relief for the Official Store: BlockVibe will act as a relief valve for the official store by providing a dedicated space for content-centric blocklets.
- Increased ABT Adoption: By making blocklet interactions seamless and integrating ABT into transactions, BlockVibe will drive more frequent use of the token.
- Simplified Blocklet Access: The platform removes the need for the need for users to have dedicated server space to launch creators blocklets, making the blocklet experience easier and more appealing for everyone.
Next Steps: With a concept site already in place, we are ready to develop a full proof of concept and collaborate with ArcBlock’s team to ensure technical alignment. BlockVibe will contribute to ArcBlock’s ecosystem by fostering innovation and creativity, while encouraging more creators to adopt blocklet technology.
Thanks for taking the time to review this proposal. I’m excited about the potential of BlockVibe and would love to hear your thoughts on how we can move forward together, or just tell me I'm crazy and to get back to building apps 😆
Best, 12
Link to demo site.
7 replies
This sounds like a good idea, however ...
The official Blocklet Store does not promote "content-only" blocklets due to the complexities of US copyright law. It is challenging for reviewers to ascertain whether the blocklet creator genuinely possesses the appropriate intellectual property rights. Consequently, when someone follows the DMCA takedown process and submits a takedown notice, the simplest course of action is often to remove such a blocklet.
If you operate a similar service and permit others to publish content, you must take similar precautions to avoid accusations of copyright infringement. Essentially, you need to register with the US Copyright Office and likely adhere to the same DMCA procedures. Even if we sponsor a server for this purpose, we would still be responsible for acting on a takedown notice if someone sends it to us regarding your service.
Software copyright infringement is indeed a concern, yet its management differs, making the review process considerably easier while complicating the takedown process, which cannot be achieved merely by sending us a notice. We shall unite with application developers to safeguard their rights.
The Blocklet Store primarily serves as a marketplace for "Applications" and is not intended for digital or streaming content. If your aim is to offer a download service for digital content, operating a Blocklet Store is unnecessary.
Ideally, content owners should host their material on their own service, assuming full responsibility. This way, they can directly address any copyright issues with the involved parties, eliminating the need for third-party intervention. As platform and technology providers, we detest becoming entangled in the legal disputes of other parties or being compelled to make decisions that might not favor one side, in order to avoid being drawn into legal proceedings.
If you have used YouTube or similar platforms and your original content was taken down by YouTube merely because some of your detractors reported it as infringing their rights, you would feel deeply frustrated and might even question why Google so readily removes your content. The reason remains the same.
I understand this puts Arcblock at risk of legal issues.
If I was to run my own server with my own funds, would ArcBlock still be held liable and responsible for taking down content? Or would that be liability fall on me?
Let me explain in this way by an example:
If you operate your own service (under your own domain name) and host digital content, someone may believe this content infringes on their rights and send us a takedown notice.
We will usually immediately refuse their take down request, because:
We shall not permit anyone to operate services that are illegal under U.S. law, such as casinos, child pornography, or illicit marketplaces, etc.
In such a case, the appropriate recipient of the takedown notice is you, and you will need to address it. If you are a service provider and the content is supplied by your users, you will find yourself in a similar position. If the content is your own, you bear full responsibility, but it also means that if you are indeed the legitimate owner, you can refuse their request and contest it.
Nonetheless, bear in mind that the DMCA is not our adversary; it safeguards service providers and copyright holders. If you intend to offer content services, it is imperative to familiarize yourself with copyright law, understand your rights, and be well-prepared.
Thank you for the explanation. I understand and will move forward with all of this in mind.
With your recent clarification as to criteria for official marketplace submissions, it is hard for me to see a way to utilize blocklets in this creative manner other than running my own server.
You should be able to run own blocklet store as serverless, so no need to have own server.
Ok. IS there any documentation on the site that could help guide me through that process?
cool