ZK IP packages in Noir

Tech Stack

• ZK circuit: Implemented in Noir powered by Aztec
• Smart Contract: Implemented in Solidity (Framework: Foundry)
• Blockchain: Story Protocol

(NOTE: Still in progress to implement the smart contracts and deploy on the Story Protocol)

Overview

• This is the package of Zero-Knowledge (ZK) circuits in Noir for the privacy-preserving Intellectual Property (IP), which is expected to work with the Story Protocol.

• This package is consist of the following two type of ZK circuits:

  • Confidential Licensing Agreements (circuit-for-confidential-licensing-agreements)
  • Selective Disclosure in Derivative Works (circuit-for-derivative-works)

1. Confidential Licensing Agreements

• Example use case: Two parties can enter into a IP licensing agreement with sensitive terms without disclosing the sentitive terms (conditions).

• Specification:

  • The license terms are encoded off-chain.
  • A ZKP (Zero-Knowledge Proof) can prove the agreement without revealing the sensitive conditions (e.g., jurisdiction, duration).
    • In the Story Protocol, it is stored as an off-chain terms to be included in uri field of the PILTerms struct (which define an on-chain terms).
    • The ZK circuit for the Confidential Licensing Agreements will generate a ZKP of the off-chain terms (a off-chain terms proof).
    • Then, the off-chain terms proof will be used to prove it without revealing the sensitive conditions under the off-chain terms.

• Benefit: Enables enforcement of licensing conditions while preserving confidentiality.

2. Selective Disclosure in Derivative Works

• Example use case:

  • A creator of the derivative work can get allowance without revealing the full derivative work's content.
  • While a creator of the original IP can check the derivatives of their work under specific conditions without checking the full derivative work's content.

• Specification:

  • The original IP Asset includes metadata, which is called the IPA Metadata Standard and the permissible derivative conditions are specified.

  • Once a creator of the derivative work will request to generate a ZKP (Zero-Knowledge Proof), the ZK circuit will generate a ZKP of their derivative work (derivative work proof). Then, it would be verified whether their derivative work meets these conditions or not without revealing the full derivative work's content.

  • Once the verification for a derivative work proof is successful, their derivative work is registered as a new derivative work of the original IP Asset.

• Benefit: Facilitates controlled collaboration and expansion of creative works.

ZK circuits

Test of the ZK circuits

• Test of the ZK circuit for the Confidential License Agreement (circuit-for-confidential-licensing-agreements):

cd circuits/circuit-for-confidential-licensing-agreements
sh circuit_test

• Test of the ZK circuit for the Derivative Works (circuit-for-derivative-works):

cd circuits/circuit-for-derivative-works
sh circuit_test

Smart Contract

• IN PROGRESS

DEMO

• DEMO Video:
  • Currently, this DEMO Video is only for the test of the ZK circuits: https://vimeo.com/1093559312/111c453f4c

References

• Noir:
  • Doc: https://noir-lang.org/docs/getting_started/quick_start

• ZK-Kit:
  • merkle-trees：https://github.com/privacy-scaling-explorations/zk-kit.noir/tree/main/packages/merkle-trees
  • binary-merkle-root：https://github.com/privacy-scaling-explorations/zk-kit.noir/tree/main/packages/binary-merkle-root

• Story Protocol:
  • IPA Metadata Standard: https://docs.story.foundation/concepts/ip-asset/ipa-metadata-standard
  • On-chain term (PILTerms struct): https://docs.story.foundation/concepts/programmable-ip-license/pil-terms#on-chain-terms
  • Off-chain terms to be included in uri field: https://docs.story.foundation/concepts/programmable-ip-license/pil-terms#off-chain-terms-to-be-included-in-uri-field
  • Story Protocol - Boilerplate: https://github.com/storyprotocol/story-protocol-boilerplate/tree/main