Overview
DOTS Protocol is the ownership and protection layer of the ZZAZZ ecosystem. It didn’t exist when I joined. I identified the need for an ownership system, defined the conceptual model, and scoped the lineage logic that makes content protection and derivative tracking possible.
My contribution: Future scoping — identified the need, defined the conceptual model and lineage logic.
Why DOTS Was Needed
Content gets copied easily, and the original owner often doesn’t know it — losing both revenue and attribution. In a world where AI can summarize, rephrase, and redistribute content in seconds, the problem is accelerating. Without provenance tracking, creators lose control and revenue the moment their content is shared or repurposed.
For the ZZAZZ ecosystem to work, creators need to trust that their content remains attributable and monetizable even as it travels through the system. Without that trust, the supply side collapses.
The Conceptual Model
Every piece of content in ZZAZZ gets a DOT — a unique identifier that carries ownership, rights, and lineage information.
Original Registration
When content is published through Publish or Moments, it receives a DOT identifier (e.g., DOT-123) that records the original creator, publication time, and rights configuration.
Derivative Tracking
When content is remixed, quoted, summarized, or built upon, the derivative receives its own DOT (e.g., DOT-1234) that links back to the original. The lineage is permanent and transparent.
Automatic Revenue Splits
When a derivative earns revenue — through any TimePay access path — the revenue automatically splits between the derivative creator and the original creator according to predefined rules. Value flows back upstream.
Lineage Visualization
Creators can see the full lineage tree of their content — every derivative, every downstream use, every revenue event. This makes the value of original creation visible and tangible.
Why DOTS Matters for the Ecosystem
Without DOTS, Moments doesn’t fully protect creators. Without creator protection, the supply side weakens. Without strong supply, Exchange has less to discover. Without discovery, TimePay has less to monetize.
DOTS completes the trust loop that makes creators willing to publish their best work into the ecosystem — knowing that their contribution remains attributed and monetizable regardless of how it’s used downstream.