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Book chain

By Peter Maxwell 26 : 04 : 2017 Blockchain : Book : Post-ownership

Australia – Editions at Play’s latest publication is a blockchain-based book that challenges conventional notions of ownership.

The book uses blockchain technology to enable readers to pass on editorial control of the book up to 100 times
These owners must edit the title, removing two words and adding one, before passing on control

A Universe Explodes by Tea Uglow and Editions at Play, Australia

Editions at Play is a collaboration between London-based experimental publisher Visual Editions and Google’s Creative Lab team in Sydney. Their latest publication, A Universe Explodes, written by Creative Lab creative director Tea Uglow, is ostensibly the story of a parent losing their grip on reality.

The publication’s main purpose is to act as an investigation into what constitutes book ownership and readership in 2017. Uglow has used blockchain technology to create a piece of non-linear literature that is accessible to all but only owned by 100 people at a time. ‘With digital work, it’s almost impossible to get the sense of who owns it,’ Uglow told Wired.

These privileged few must edit the book, removing two words and adding one, before passing on control to another. This will occur 100 times. The aim is for the book to become shorter until it only consists of one word per page.

The Big Picture

From national identity to the food supply chain and artists' copyright, the blockchain is transforming how brands and consumers think about ownership. Read our Blockchain Consumerism microtrend for more.