This comprehensive guide explores EIP-2981, the standardized NFT royalty protocol that revolutionizes creator compensation across blockchain platforms. EIP-2981 establishes a universal framework ensuring creators automatically receive predetermined percentages from secondary market sales, creating sustainable income streams beyond initial transactions. The standard drives three critical benefits: enables transparent royalty distribution that builds collector confidence, reduces technical complexity for platforms like OpenSea, Rarible, and Foundation through interoperable integration, and supports broader ecosystem maturation by formalizing marketplace economics. By examining technological advancements, real-world implementations, and implications for major trading platforms, this article demonstrates how EIP-2981 transforms the NFT market into a more equitable, professional, and trustworthy environment. Whether you're a creator, collector, or platform operator, understanding this royalty standard is essential