Digital content in the virtual world is typically protected by copyrights, trademarks, and patents. One of the well-known steps taken to protect one's IP includes digital watermarks for identifying the origin or source of images and videos.
Copyright of creative works, on the other hand, is automatic from the time of creation, although registering them can provide owners additional legal benefits. As such, content creators have the right to take legal action against parties infringing on their creative content rather swiftly due to the nature of the protection itself.
If you are subscribing to any media-streaming platform, you are already paying for the license to legally use the platforms for streaming music, videos, and even buying digital games. By purchasing or buying a license to the content, individuals are directly supporting and contributing to the creation of new and innovative works from the originators.
Viral sharing may be fun, entertaining, and sometimes shocking. However, it is important for the public to respect the IP rights of others, and only share authorised or licensed content throughout the virtual space. One step that has been taken by social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok to protect viral content as an IP is by setting out policies and procedures for handling IP infringement issues, including reporting copyright infringement and removing infringing content.