The Role of Legal Frameworks in Protecting Digital Artifacts: Artists' and Collectors' Perspectives

Abstract

This article aims to explore the role of legal frameworks in protecting digital artifacts, focusing on the perspectives of artists and collectors. It seeks to identify the main legal challenges, understand the viewpoints of creators and collectors, and suggest directions for future legal reforms and technological advancements to better safeguard digital creations. A qualitative research design was utilized, employing semi-structured interviews with 21 participants, including digital artists and collectors. The study focused on collecting rich, detailed insights into the experiences and opinions regarding the current state of legal protections for digital art. Data analysis was conducted through thematic coding, aiming for theoretical saturation to ensure comprehensive coverage of the topic. Four main themes emerged from the analysis: Legal Challenges and Limitations; Artists' Perspectives; Collectors' Perspectives; and Advocacy and Reform. Each theme encapsulated various categories and concepts, highlighting issues such as copyright and ownership challenges, the impact of digital rights management (DRM), the necessity of certification and preservation of digital artworks, and the critical role of legal awareness and education. Insights into the economic value of digital art, market dynamics, and the significance of authenticity and provenance were also uncovered. The study underscores the complexity of legal challenges facing the digital art ecosystem and the varied perspectives of artists and collectors navigating these issues. It calls for a collaborative approach to legal reform, emphasizing the need for adaptable, responsive legal frameworks that can protect digital artifacts in an evolving digital landscape. Additionally, the findings highlight the importance of technological advancements and increased legal literacy within the digital art community to support the creation, distribution, and preservation of digital art.