Can Blockchain Fix AI's "IP Problem"? With Story Protocol co-founder Jason Zhao

Who owns what in the age of AI? In this episode of The People’s AI, presented by Vana, Jeff Wilser speaks with Jason Zhao, co-founder of Story Protocol, a blockchain-based infrastructure that aims to reshape the global market for intellectual property (IP)—an asset class worth over $61 trillion.

As generative AI tools become mainstream, the battle over IP rights, creator compensation, and fair licensing is intensifying. Zhao explains how Story Protocol is building a decentralized framework to register, track, and monetize IP across domains—from Hollywood screenplays and music royalties to genetic data and brand trademarks.

The episode explores real-world examples, including collaborations with David Goyer (writer of The Dark Knight and Foundation), fashion remixing apps, and music assets like Justin Bieber’s “Peaches” and BTS songs registered via Story’s music licensing protocol, Aria.

We also discuss data sovereignty, the VRC-20 token standard, fine-tuning LLMs, and how AI agents are beginning to generate and license IP on-chain. Jason unpacks the economics behind viral trends like the Studio Ghibli AI art controversy, and outlines what a remix-friendly, creator-compensated AI economy could look like.

For anyone interested in the future of blockchain, web3, the creator economy, or AI and IP law, this episode offers a forward-looking blueprint.

About Vana:
Vana's vision is for user-owned AI through user owned-data. Its mission is to be the world's first open protocol for data sovereignty.
https://linktr.ee/vanahq

Vana on Twitter/X:
https://x.com/vana

Vana ecosystem:
vana.com

Vana introduces VRC 20 Token:
https://x.com/anna_kazlauskas/status/...

Story Protocol:
https://linktr.ee/storyprotocol