Fox Corporation, renowned for its media properties like Fox News and Fox Sports, has announced TIME as its inaugural external publishing partner on the Verify Protocol, built on Polygon's blockchain infrastructure.

The Verify Protocol, developed in collaboration with Polygon Labs and launched in January, operates on Polygon's Proof-of-Stake (PoS) network. Its primary function is to cryptographically sign media content on the blockchain, ensuring that it can be independently verified by users as originating from a trusted publisher. This initiative aims to combat misinformation by providing a secure and transparent method of content verification.

TIME, a prominent media brand recognized for its journalism and reporting, will integrate the blockchain-based Verify Protocol into its content licensing and verification strategy. This partnership underscores a commitment to delivering fact-based journalism and ensuring the authenticity of its published content in an era where trustworthiness is paramount.

Mark Howard, COO of TIME, emphasized the significance of this collaboration: "TIME is proud to join FOX’s Verify as an authenticated source of fact-based journalism at a time when access to trusted information is more important than ever."

The Verify Protocol not only serves to authenticate content but also aims to establish comprehensive content licensing agreements. These agreements will cover how intellectual property from media companies is utilized, potentially opening new commercial opportunities through smart contracts that programmatically grant access to verified content.

While the current iteration of Verify operates on Polygon's PoS network, Fox Corporation plans to advance the technology further. They are collaborating with DeFi protocol Gelato to migrate to an independent zero-knowledge (ZK) blockchain on Ethereum, leveraging Polygon's chain development kit (CDK) for streamlined content verification processes.

According to Fox Corporation, over 300,000 pieces of content from various Fox subsidiaries, including Fox Sports, Fox News, Fox Business, and local Fox television stations, have already been incorporated into the Verify content graph. This includes a wide array of articles and images that are now digitally signed to enhance their authenticity and trustworthiness.

In summary, the partnership between Fox Corporation and TIME on the Verify Protocol represents a significant step forward in leveraging blockchain technology to uphold journalistic integrity and combat misinformation in the media landscape. As the platform evolves onto a dedicated ZK-powered blockchain, it aims to set a new standard for transparent and secure content verification across the industry.