Blockchain for social memory institutions: Functional value and possibilities

Abstract

De-centralized storage and the closely-coupled related constancy of loaded data, immunity against hacker attacks, transaction history recording and complete transparency make the blockchain technology attractive not only for developing cryptocurrencies and economic transactions. The author reviews the world experience in applying the technology to various activities of social memory institutions and, in particular, individual programs based on the blockchain. The technology enables to provide control and insurance for pieces of art, to ensure copyright, to prevent illegal copying, to store digital copies and ori- ginal works created in the digital environment, to integrate resources using the key functionality of distributed databases. The possibilities and prospects for Russia are evaluated; the need for regulative foundation to define core functionality and legal liability of blockchain processes is emphasized. The possibility for using the technology for building the single knowledge space as the integrative model of digital museum, archival and library resources is analyzed.