![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/782/1*StzQFlg9a4J5F5OYDPNC6Q@2x.png) # Announcing the Gilgamesh Platform - [Website](https://gilgameshplatform.com) ## Blockchain-based knowledge-sharing social platform, powered by Ethereum smart contracts. Gilgamesh is a knowledge-sharing social platform powered by Ethereum smart contracts and blockchain technology. The network shifts the way readers, critics, and authors communicate and connect with one another. Using the Gilgamesh platform, users can gain and transfer knowledge in a protected environment that encourages widespread learning and education, and incentivizes the human race to become more thoughtful and information-centric. Productive interactions and engagements on the Gilgamesh platform earn users GIL Tokens, on the Ethereum blockchain through smart contracts. They can spend GIL tokens on in-app goods and services, or to vote on the governance of the platform. ### The Name Gilgamesh *The Epic of Gilgamesh* is the title of the first known written book in the history of the world. Our team sees it as humankind’s first attempt to record and disseminate knowledge to the public, and that’s how we decided on the name of our platform. Like the epic poem, Gilgamesh is our first endeavor in connecting social media to a valuable, knowledge-sharing platform. ### Problem Statement Books have been our main source of knowledge for thousands of years. However, with the advent of new technologies and the internet, there is no simple, meaningful, and productive platform that encourages book readers and authors to connect, engage, and gain knowledge. ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1600/1*kdsbxx_cKpFFtTsrCcZwpA.png) *Major players in the book industry are all separated* Instead, the market is full of stagnant and outdated platforms that no longer satisfy the demands of the book community. * Authors and readers are not connected * Readers can’t socialize and share knowledge with other readers * Authors don’t get real-time feedback and reviews of their books ### Publishers as Middlemen Powerful publishing companies control the industry by limiting authors’ ability to contribute to the market, earn a fair wage, and retain the rights to their work. By maintaining control of the industry, publishers ensure their position as an intermediary in most book publications and sales, and earn high commissions with minimal threat to their position in the publishing process. ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1600/1*qG9b3pEWLGB5UPshs1nsmQ.png) *Publishers are the middleman, a barrier between authors and readers* In general, publishers are nothing more than middlemen infringing on authors’ rights and taking advantage of the power they hold. The influence publishers have creates a barrier to communication and access among authors, publishing service providers, and readers. * Publishers hold all the monetary and legal power * Publishers prohibit open communication between authors and industry-based service providers * Self-publishing requires too much start up capital for most authors * Authors are leaving the market to earn a living wage in other industries ### Solution — The Gilgamesh Platform The Gilgamesh platform provides a unique, simple user experience that encourages readers to engage and connect with one another, consume more informative content, and gain knowledge. ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1600/1*EuPpEC4Z0RxsNSbjZgGWGg.png) *Socially connecting readers, authors, and service providers with no middleman* The platform is an open market for users to socialize; find, buy, review, and discuss books; and directly influence the publishing industry. Authors will be able to publish their work through service providers and receive the full financial benefit of their sales on the platform, which will bring new authors into the market and influence the way people consume books.
Below are some of the advantages of the Gilgamesh platform. * Readers, critics, and authors can connect socially * The platform revitalizes the book industry and creates a friendly and fun environment for the book community * Gilgamesh removes the publisher as middleman; authors can purchase services from self-publishing service providers on the platform * Authors and service providers earn a fair, living wage for their sales and services * Users create their own opportunities for success and become happier, more intelligent people ### Service Providers in Depth The Gilgamesh self-publishing platform is a marketplace for industry-related service providers to advertise, gain new opportunities, and contribute to the success of an author or publication.
Authors can browse the service providers by type, fee, or rating to identify recommended editors, printers, and distributors on the platform. They can directly hire service providers on the Gilgamesh Platform and pay for services using GIL tokens. ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/2000/1*wpKETdUZFdIBt0iNuaBpGw.png) *a marketplace for service providers* Essentially, the self-publishing platform and marketplace removes the middleman (publishers) from the publishing process, creating an efficient and lucrative resource for authors who want to maintain control of their work. Service providers are charged a small fee based on the income they earn on the platform. Authors can also use the self-publishing and social platform to create a secure eBook on IPFS & Ethereum smart contracts, register a copyright, or place an in-app advertisement. * Service providers are copywriters, copy editors, cover designers, illustrators, layout designers, printers, distributors, and marketers * The Gilgamesh platform is a secure resource for self-publishing an eBook, registering a copyright, or advertising a book to users * Authors will have full control of their work and will no longer have business partners * Authors will enjoy more freedom and a higher income, resulting in more books getting published ### Gilgamesh Token — GIL Token > The Gilgamesh platform will introduce a standard ERC20 Token — GIL token, which > is based on the Ethereum smart contract that incentivizes participation on the platform. ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/1*UoqEfkuFu5JbiHTxwNhqVw.png) The GIL token is a utility token meant to be used on Gilgamesh platform. Specifically, it rewards users for meaningful engagements that help grow the platform, such as writing a book review, and can only be purchased from the Gilgamesh platform during the token sale. The use of GIL tokens will create a fair knowledge ecosystem where tokens are earned in proportion to productive contributions. * Token holders can vote and propose new features and changes on the platform * Readers can purchase books, eBooks, or audiobooks on the platform * Authors can pay service providers for self-publishing services * Service providers will pay a percentage of their income from services to the Gilgamesh platform * Authors earn GIL tokens from selling books, eBooks, and audiobooks on the platform * Authors earn GIL tokens from receiving high-ranking reviews > *GIL tokens are sold as a utility token or functional goods. GIL tokens are > meant only for experts in cryptographic tokens and blockchain-based software systems, GIL tokens should not be used for investment purposes.* ### Gilgamesh Platform Architecture Gilgamesh is a knowledge-sharing social platform that leverages blockchain technology, IPFS, and Ethereum smart contracts to create a fair knowledge-based market. The platform is divided into two distinct segments:
*Economic* & *Engagement Flow and Governance Flow* ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/2000/1*Lpt-AydOhz02CU7WKO7J1g.png) *Gilgamesh Platform Architecture* #### **Economic & Engagement Flow** Readers, critics, authors, and service providers earn GIL tokens as a reward for their productive contributions and influence on the platform, such as writing useful reviews and book summaries. They can use GIL tokens to pay for a service from a service provider; place an advertisement on the platform; or purchase a book, eBook, or audiobook on the platform. Service providers earn GIL tokens for the services they provide to authors, and spend them on platform fees or to place an advertisement on the platform. #### Governance Flow GIL token buyers, service providers, users, and the Gilgamesh team are all token holders on the Gilgamesh platform. Token holders are responsible for making suggestions and voting on the governance of the platform. Correspondingly, voting power is maintained on the Ethereum blockchain through the use of smart contracts to ensure a fair market economy. #### Ethereum & IPFS Gilgamesh leverages blockchain technology to create a secure, democratic, censorship-free platform. Ethereum smart contracts will be used to create ERC20 utility tokens that incentivize users in proportion to their contributions and ensure fair governance by the community. Accordingly, the Ethereum blockchain is a great fit for decentralized, censorship-free, secure, and open platforms. The Gilgamesh platform encrypts all sensitive information and book files, storing a distributed file system on IPFS to ensure security and prevent censorship. #### Monetization The Gilgamesh platform earns GIL tokens from advertisements paid by authors and service providers, and platform fees charged by service providers. The platform also earns GIL tokens from commissions on book sales, specifically from authors who self-publish and sell their books on the platform. The GIL tokens earned through the platform are reinvested back into the ecosystem so that Gilgamesh can grow organically. ### Decentralization A centralized product is controlled or run by a single company or individual. Below are some of the problems with centralized products or entities.
- **Trust:** Users need to trust a central authority with their information and money **Security:** Single point of failure, therefore, they are not 100% secure **Censorship:** Users don’t own their data and the company owns users’ data Closed system: All decision and development plans are made by a small group of people Decentralization means no one organization or individual can determine the future of a product. This allows the Gilgamesh platform to remain immutable and perpetual in terms of its initial principals. Below are a few advantages of decentralized platforms.
- No need to trust in a central authority
- No single point of failure
- No censorship Book, files, and highly-sensitive information are all encrypted and stored on decentralized networks such as IPFS and Ethereum to ensure data integrity. IPFS is peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol and a cryptographic hash that will be used to store critical information such as book files and user information. It is a great match for blockchain-based software, since we can store large amounts of data with IPFS and insert immutable IPFS links into the blockchain transactions or smart contract. This, in turn, can secure and timestamp our content without having to put the data on the blockchain. By using Ethereum and IPFS, our platform will become truly decentralized. With the Ethereum ERC20 token, we provide governance and eliminate censorship; and by storing the author’s manuscript and critical information on IPFS, we ensure no company or middleman owns Gilgamesh platform data and especially authors’ work. Since the middlemen don’t exist on our platform, the author’s manuscript will remain intact and won’t be changed. Accordingly, no third-party entity or even the Gilgamesh platform itself can modify the book. > *Authors will be in full control of their art* Since the data is encrypted and stored on a decentralized network, and there is no oversight from the publisher, authors can remain anonymous and enjoy their freedom of speech. ### Smart Contract The Gilgamesh Platform Token is an ERC20 standard token deployed on the Ethereum network through smart contracts. > Ethereum smart contracts will be used to store immutable, permanent links to > encrypted Gilgamesh files on the IPFS network. This will eliminate censorship and ensure data integrity. [Link to our smart contract in Github](https://github.com/skiral/gilgamesh-token-contract) ![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/2000/1*9VgcY0w-RfbNZRlmm2E5aw.png) *Example Smart Contract Code* For more information, please read our [whitepaper](https://www.gilgameshplatform.com/pdf/gilgamesh-platform-whitepaper.pdf), check out our [website](http://www.gilgameshplatform.com/), or join us on [Slack](http://slack.gilgameshplatform.com/). Skiral Inc. is proud to build the first-ever decentralized social knowledge platform powered by the Ethereum smart contract. > *Gilgamesh is here to push the human race forward* Stay tuned for more information. #### Keep up with the progress of Gilgamesh Team: [Join us at Slack](http://slack.gilgameshplatform.com/)
[Follow Gilgamesh on Twitter](http://twitter.com/@GilPlatform)
[Check our Github](https://github.com/skiral/gilgamesh-token-contract)
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