Rights metadata, and why it isn’t durable on its own
Rights metadata (IPTC/XMP-compatible fields) travels inside the file: creator, copyright notice, usage terms, and links.
Why it matters
When it survives, it lets honest platforms, editors, and researchers see who made the work and how to license it. It’s a professional standard and worth embedding.
Why it isn’t enough
Many social platforms and websites strip metadata on upload. Metadata is best treated as one layer, not as durable protection by itself. Pair it with a visible mark or invisible identifier for resilience.