Pryor Cashman Helps Launch Digital Art and Media Platform “Monegraph”
Using blockchain technology similar to that used by Bitcoin, Monegraph is a web-based platform that facilitates transfers of digital art, such as professional and amateur photography, and other forms of digital media directly between artists and content buyers. Artists can select from a menu of sale, licensing, resale, and remixing rights and can set their own price. Content buyers can acquire such rights directly, without brokers and with the comfort of knowing that that title and artist attribution are verified through the blockchain's cryptocurrency technology.
Led by partners William Charron (who co-chairs the Art Law group), Rob deBrauwere, and John Crowe, Pryor Cashman helped to form the company and develop its intricate and cutting edge terms of use.
Charron spoke at the launching event held at the Bowery's New Museum on September 28, 2015. Over 200 artists and major media representatives attended, and described Monegraph as “paving an Internet highway” to facilitate “nearly instantaneous digital bargains and exchanges of art.” "Just as people know to look for a little circled 'c' to know that something is copyrighted, I think in relatively short order looking for the scripted 'M' to know that something is 'Monegraphed' will become part of the commercial art and legal vernacular," Charron said.
Charron represents a number of clients developing cutting edge approaches to dealing with problems of art authentication and title, and writes and speaks frequently on those topics. In May 2016, Charron will be part of the second Authentication in Art (AiA) Congress at The Hague, Netherlands.
Kevin McCoy, CEO of Monegraph, spoke with Entrepreneur Magazine for its article, “How This Man Made the Leap from Artist to Entrepreneur,” and credits Pryor Cashman with drafting rights language in plain English for the artist community. The article appeared in the February issue.
