Supporting legal, cultural, and economic research that informs fair-use standards, IP reform, and cultural data governance.
Current intellectual property law was written for a world where creation was individual, static, and easily traced. But Black culture is communal, iterative, and constantly evolving. The legal system doesn't recognize cultural IP, leaving communities defenseless against extraction. We're changing that through rigorous research, policy advocacy, and legal innovation.
Developing legal frameworks for recognizing and protecting communal cultural intellectual property, including model legislation for state and federal adoption.
Quantifying the economic impact of Black culture across industries—from fashion to music to technology—to demonstrate the scale of extraction.
Establishing protocols for cultural data governance, ensuring communities control how their culture is documented, stored, and monetized.
Redefining "fair use" to account for cultural significance, communal ownership, and the power dynamics of extraction vs. appreciation.
Researching decentralized systems for cultural IP registration, verification, and licensing that reduce friction and increase creator control.
Working with UNESCO and international bodies to establish global standards for cultural IP protection and equitable licensing.
Our theory of change is simple: rigorous research → evidence-based policy → structural reform → lasting impact. Here's our five-year plan to fundamentally change how cultural IP is protected in America.
Partner with Stanford Law, Howard University, and Economic Policy Institute to publish foundational research on cultural IP economics. Launch pilot program with USPTO to test cultural IP registration protocols. Build coalition of 50+ creator organizations.
Introduce model legislation in California, New York, and Georgia establishing state-level cultural IP protections. Work with Congressional Black Caucus to draft federal framework. Publish Cultural Equity Index showing economic impact data.
Advocate for federal "Cultural IP Protection Act" with bipartisan support. Testify before Congress on cultural extraction and economic justice. Partner with Copyright Office on modernization recommendations.
Support implementation of new legal frameworks. Launch national certification program for cultural IP licensing. Establish permanent research institute for cultural IP studies. Extend model internationally through UNESCO partnership.
We don't work in isolation. Our research agenda is built in partnership with leading universities, think tanks, and legal institutions committed to economic justice.
The Policy Lab requires patient capital from funders who understand that structural change takes time but creates lasting impact. Your investment funds the research and advocacy that will benefit millions of creators for generations.
Policy change is the ultimate leverage point. One successful piece of legislation protects millions of creators and unlocks billions in economic value.
Unlike programs that support individuals, systems change benefits everyone forever. Future generations inherit a more just legal framework.
Our research creates the evidence base that policymakers need to act. We're not just advocating—we're proving the case with data.
We're building a national movement of creators, legal scholars, and advocates. Your investment amplifies dozens of organizations' work.
For philanthropists committed to structural reform and evidence-based policy change, the MADE Policy Lab offers a strategic investment in long-term economic justice for Black and Brown creators. Let's discuss how your support can help reshape American copyright law.