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Philosophy | MyDataKey — Data Ownership & IP Sovereignty
The Philosophy Behind MyDataKey

Data isn’t information.
It’s evidence of you.

We’re building the infrastructure for a world where your data—and the IP it generates—belongs to you.

01 — THE QUESTION

Who owns the evidence of your existence?

Every search, every photo, every word you speak near a device—these aren’t just data points. They’re evidence of your thoughts, your creativity, your relationships, your identity.

This evidence has been collected, analyzed, packaged, and sold billions of times. Companies built empires on it. AI systems trained on it. Decisions about your credit, insurance, and opportunities made using it.

“The question isn’t whether your data has value. The question is: who gets to decide what happens to it?”

Right now, the answer is: not you. That’s what we’re here to change.

02 — WHAT WE BELIEVE

Core principles of data sovereignty

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Ownership is a verb

Saying you “own” something means nothing if you can’t prove it, protect it, or use it. Ownership requires operational infrastructure.

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Evidence beats claims

Anyone can claim rights. We create verifiable, timestamped, cryptographically-anchored records that survive legal scrutiny.

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Non-custodial by design

We don’t want your data. We create records about your data’s existence and your intent. The safest vault is one that doesn’t exist.

⚖️

Posture, not confrontation

We believe in calm assertion over aggressive action. Declare your position. Document your stance. Let the record speak.

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Universal access

Data sovereignty isn’t a premium feature. Everyone—regardless of technical skill—deserves to own their digital life.

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Future-proof standing

Laws will change. Technology will evolve. AI will grow. Your ownership record should survive all of it.

The Current Model

“Your data is the product.”
Consent buried in 50-page ToS
Opt-out mazes designed to exhaust
Data brokers you’ve never heard of
AI trained on your work, sold back
“Trust us” with no receipts

What We’re Building

“Your data is your property.”
One clear declaration of ownership
Machine-readable posture at scale
Clearinghouse with receipts
Timestamped claims precede usage
Verifiable evidence for every assertion
03 — THE SHIFT

Privacy is defense. Ownership is position.

Privacy tools help you hide. They’re valuable—we built an opt-out hub ourselves. But hiding is exhausting. It’s asymmetric warfare where you’re always on defense.

Ownership is different. When you own something, you don’t hide it. You declare it. You register it. You carry proof. And when someone uses it without permission, you have standing.

“The goal isn’t to disappear from the digital economy. It’s to participate on your own terms.”

The MyDataKey Manifesto

Your data was used. Value was created. Ownership was never transferred.

We’re here to fix that.

04 — FOR THE SKEPTICS

We’ve heard the objections

“Data ownership isn’t legally recognized.”
Neither was software copyright in 1970. We’re building infrastructure that will be ready when law catches up.

“Companies will never comply.”
They said that about GDPR. About CCPA. Machine-readable posture with timestamped receipts changes the liability calculus.

“You can’t control what’s already out there.”
Correct. But you can establish a record that predates future use. You can create evidence for disputes.

“This is idealistic.”
So was the idea that individuals could publish globally, create currencies, or build companies from bedrooms. Infrastructure precedes adoption.

Ready to own your digital life?

Start with a free ownership record. No credit card required.