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Arts & Communication

ARTICLE
Reshaping the art market: Blockchain

technology, resale royalties, and the emerging
Chinese paradigm

Zhongbo Tian*

Visual Arts Administration, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development,
New York University, New York City, New York, United States of America
(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Re-globalization: Practices from the Art Market)

Abstract

This paper examines the global evolution of resale royalties within the art market,
with an emphasis on the transformative role of blockchain technology in enforcing
artists’ droit de suite. It delves into the evolution of resale royalties and their
enforcement through blockchain technology globally, analyzing diverse approaches
in the European Union, the United States of America, Australia, and China, and the
universal adaptation of blockchain in this context. Drawing on diverse practices,
the paper reveals diverse practices and the complex interplay between economic,
legal, and cultural factors in each context. The research underscores blockchain’s
*Corresponding author:
Zhongbo Tian potential to offer transparency, security, and efficiency in managing and enforcing
(zt2019@nyu.edu) resale royalties, as demonstrated by the rise of non-fungible token platforms like
OpenSea. The paper also delves into China’s distinctive approach to blockchain,
Citation: Tian Z. Reshaping the
art market: Blockchain technology, which avoids speculative digital currency markets while fostering digital collectibles
resale royalties, and the emerging within a controlled regulatory framework. The paper concludes by offering strategic
Chinese paradigm. Arts & recommendations aimed at harmonizing legal frameworks, spurring technological
Communication. 2025;3(1):2875.
doi: 10.36922/ac.2875 innovation, and preparing markets for these advancements. It calls for a balanced
ecosystem that fosters artistic innovation and ensures regulatory compliance,
Received: February 2, 2024
showcasing the enduring influence of early concepts in the current digital era of the
1st revised: March 11, 2024 art market.
2nd revised: April 10, 2024
Accepted: April 12, 2024 Keywords: Resale royalties; Blockchain technology; Digital art market; Non-fungible
Published online: September 12, tokens
2024
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms 1. Introduction
of the Creative Commons
AttributionNoncommercial License, The concept of resale royalties, or droit de suite, grants visual artists a stake in the
permitting all non-commercial use, appreciating value of their artwork, ensuring they receive a percentage of the proceeds
distribution, and reproduction in any from subsequent sales. This legal framework has its origins in early 20 century France
1
th
medium, provided the original work
2
is properly cited. and has been widely adopted across Europe. However, its integration into various legal
systems worldwide, particularly in the United States of America (US) and China, has
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with been met with varying levels of resistance and implementation challenges. 3
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional China’s foray into the resale royalty landscape marked a pivotal shift in recognizing
affiliations. and valuing artists’ ongoing rights. The Chinese Copyright Law amendment draft in
Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 1 doi: 10.36922/ac.2875