Claims & Boxes

LMIF uses two separate but related concepts: Claims and Boxes. Understanding the difference is crucial for both creators and platform developers.

Claim vs Box

CLAIM (Identity Verification)

What it means: “I am who I say I am”

Verified via Stripe Identity / documentation
Results in a verified badge
Does NOT restrict others

BOX (IP Protection)

What it means: “I control use of my likeness”

Requires claim first (or IP rights proof)
Results in enforcement on matching content
Restricts/monetizes others

Two Options for Creators

Option A: Claim Only (Verified, Open)

"I'm the real [Name], verified"
├── Others CAN create inspired content
├── Creator gets verified badge, discoverability boost
└── Good for: Emerging creators wanting exposure

Option B: Claim + Box (Verified, Protected)

"I'm the real [Name] AND I control my likeness"
├── Others CANNOT create content without permission
├── Creator sets the rules (block, monetize, license)
└── Good for: Established creators wanting control

For Platform Developers

When checking an identity via the API, you need to understand the response:

Claimed but NOT Boxed

{
  "isClaimed": true,
  "isBoxed": false,
  "claimId": "claim_xyz789",
  "verificationTier": "SILVER"
}

What this means: The identity is verified, but no restrictions apply. You can:

Display the verified badge
Allow avatar creation
Optionally give the verified creator discoverability benefits

Claimed AND Boxed

{
  "isClaimed": true,
  "isBoxed": true,
  "claimId": "claim_xyz789",
  "boxId": "box_abc123",
  "policy": "MONETIZE",
  "verificationTier": "GOLD",
  "royaltyRate": 0.10
}

What this means: The identity is protected. You must:

Check the policy before allowing avatar creation
Handle licensing if required
Track usage for revenue share if applicable

Claim Lifecycle

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    CLAIM LIFECYCLE                           │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                              │
│  1. PENDING                                                  │
│  └── Claim submitted, awaiting verification                  │
│                                                              │
│  2. VERIFIED                                                 │
│  └── Identity confirmed via Stripe/documentation             │
│  └── Can now create a Box if desired                         │
│                                                              │
│  3. BOXED (optional)                                         │
│  └── Protection policy applied                               │
│  └── Enforcement begins                                      │
│                                                              │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Claim Types

Claims can be made for different types of identities:

Claim Type	Description	Example
Personal	A person claiming their own identity	Kim Kardashian
IP Asset	A company claiming a character	Warner Bros → John Wick
Estate	An estate claiming a deceased person	Estate of Prince
Brand	A company claiming a mascot	McDonald’s → Ronald McDonald

Important Distinction

Keanu Reeves (person) ≠ John Wick (character)
├── Both can be boxed separately
├── By different entities
└── With different policies

Keanu Reeves the person controls his personal likeness. Warner Bros (via Lionsgate) controls the John Wick character. These are separate claims with separate boxes and potentially different policies.

API Endpoints

Endpoint	Purpose
`POST /lmif/claims`	Create a new claim
`GET /lmif/claims/{id}`	Get claim details
`POST /lmif/boxes`	Create a box for a claim
`GET /lmif/boxes/{id}`	Get box details
`POST /lmif/identity/check`	Check if an identity is boxed

See the API Reference for complete documentation.