DECENT Network

DECENT is a Blockchain driven content distribution platform.^[1] It enables distribution of digital media content such as audio, video, text, software or video games. Based on an Open-Source principle it creates a possibility for people worldwide to develop applications on top of its protocol. DECENT represents a decentralized network of connected individuals and organizations who share their work, information or ideas without being dependent on any middleman or 3rd party.^[2]

History

DECENT Network was initially described in a white-paper by Matej Michalko and Josef Sevcik in November 2015.

Concept

The general concept of DECENT Network is based on content publishing and buying processes in which the data transactions are timestamped in the Blockchain. The whole process is build on strong cryptography that ensures security of the service. The underlying technology of DECENT Network combines a modified Bittorrent protocol and a custom blockchain.^[3]

According to DECENT Development Plan,^[4] future releases will enlarge the Network's Infrastructure and contain a full batch of applications developed on top of its protocol and an actual App store, where people will download the apps to their devices. As an Open-source protocol DECENT allows everyone to build an application for any digital content distribution or implement the protocol into already existing platform or service.^[5]

Content publishing and buying process

The users of DECENT Network can publish and buy content using crypto-graphical token called DCT. When the author creates a profile within the platform he/she can start publishing of a genuine content. The publishing process consists of uploading the file to the network, setting its price and paying a publishing fee. The author is the only one who determines the content's price. He/she can as well offer part of the content or the entire content for free. Consumers can afterwards search for their desired content either according to a certain topic or a particular author. When they decide to make a purchase, they pay the amount of DCT that was set by the author. Thanks to the decentralized approach, the whole payment goes to the author.

Functional roles

There are three main functional roles within the network. Content creators upload their content while paying a small publishing fee. The authors keep control over the content all the time and they also determine its price. Content consumers can buy the content and rank author and the content itself, which creates a reputation level of the network. Publishers (seeders/miners) keep the network running while they earn a reward for doing so.^[6]

Reputation layer

DECENT Network is based on decentralized trust, where only users decide which content is valuable. Each content consumer have a possibility to rate the purchased content and its author. Thus the authors can gain a life-time reputation within the network and build their audience.

DCT

DCT is a cryptocurrency used within DECENT Network. It's an inevitable part of content publishing and buying process and serves as a reward for miners. Therefore, it represents a fuel to the network and anti-spam protection.

Use cases

DECENT Network allows distribution on any digital content. The following possible usage opportunities represent many existing platforms that could work on DECENT protocol as well as new applications that could be build on top of it.

• Online blogging - platforms similar to Medium
• Online news publishing platforms
• Music publishing - similar to Soundcloud
• Audio/Video distribution
• Audio/Video streaming
• Software distribution
• Independent video game development

References

External links

• DECENT website