NFT marketplace OpenSea is discontinuing its royalty enforcement tool, Operator Filter. The decision was announced by Devin Finzer, OpenSea’s founder and CEO, on the company’s blog.
The tool was introduced back in November 2022, and aimed to enforce creator royalties across marketplaces by blacklisting NFT marketplaces that fail to uphold creator royalties.
OpenSea recognizes the importance of creator fees. However, they found that their enforcement was ineffective and did not match the diverse revenue streams accessible to NFT creators.
The company revealed that Operator Filter encountered challenges in gaining traction within the NFT ecosystem, and certain platforms managed to bypass it. This has raised concerns among NFT creators who rely on royalties for passive income.
Beginning on August 31, the Operator Filter will cease blacklisting any marketplaces. Collections existing on blockchains beyond Ethereum will uphold the creator’s designated fees until February 29, 2024.
Buyers will have an easier time identifying secondary listings featuring the creator’s favored fees. Creators will be able to conveniently select their preferred fees, while sellers will have the choice to personalize their creator fee payments.
However, this adjustment has sparked worries within the NFT artist community, as they fear OpenSea’s choice could potentially hinder their capacity to generate passive income from their creations.
The removal of the Operator Filter could potentially influence the NFT market dynamics. For example, the lack of a strong enforcement mechanism might dissuade certain creators from minting their NFTs on platforms that cannot ensure reliable royalty payments.
However, it is being said that particular marketplaces could experience heightened adoption if they provide more favorable conditions for creators. As a result, platforms might need to adapt their strategies to conform to the evolving landscape.
OpenSea’s choice could also shape how NFT collectors perceive various platforms. Community members may rally behind marketplaces that actively uphold royalties, emphasizing the safeguarding of artists’ rights.
Source: mPost
