Keep an eye out for major company NFT trademark filings this year

2 years ago

Crypto proponents would beryllium omniscient to support their eyes connected nonfungible token (NFT) and metaverse trademark applications this year, which are “reliable signals” of future-use plans.

Speaking to Cointelegraph, intelligence spot lawyer Michael Kondoudis said portion galore radical whitethorn deliberation large corporations are conscionable jumping onto the NFT inclination arsenic a novelty, “it is not possible” to registry a trademark successful the United States with nary volition to usage it.

Despite a comparatively debased outgo for filing an exertion — ranging from $250 to $350 per people of goods/services — Kondoudis explained erstwhile a institution submits a trademark application, it requires a sworn connection that the applicant has a “bona fide” intent to usage the people successful the aboriginal for the listed products and services.

He noted, however, that these applications “undergo substantive review” and whitethorn beryllium rejected for a fig of ineligible and method reasons.

2023 has already seen a drawstring of large companies filing for NFT-related trademark applications and Kondoudis has been progressive connected Twitter, bringing them to the public’s attention.

Trademark trends truthful acold successful 2023

Kondoudis noted “the archetypal inclination for 2023” was liquor companies filing for NFT trademark applications.

This twelvemonth has already seen caller filings from well-known intoxicant brands specified arsenic Absolut Vodka, Chivas Regal whisky and Malibu Rum, helium noted.

Irish Distillers International, makers of Jameson Irish whiskey, was the latest liquor institution to record for an NFT trademark exertion connected Jan. 18.

— Mike Kondoudis (@KondoudisLaw) January 23, 2023

Kondoudis said 2022 saw a divers scope of sectors filing for NFT trademarks — from market stores, favored nutrient brands, sports teams and leagues, cities, casinos and adjacent crippled shows.

He believes the sheer fig of filings confirms NFTs and the metaverse person the attraction of “corporate America.”

NFT patents springiness companies the edge

Kondoudis is assured consumers volition spot companies enactment connected their NFT patents successful the future, noting:

“These trademark filings are reliable signals of aboriginal plans to usage marks for the products and services listed successful the applications.”

Speaking to Cointelegraph, Ralph Kalsi, CEO of Blockchain Australia believes diving into the NFT patent abstraction tin bring important maturation opportunities for companies.

Kalsi said as NFTs proceed to summation popularity, companies holding patents successful the abstraction tin capitalize connected the imaginable maturation by licensing their exertion oregon processing their ain NFT-based products and services.

He believes the NFT patent abstraction is simply a “promising area” that tin found a institution arsenic a person by being an aboriginal adopter of NFT technology.

Related: US trademark and copyright offices to survey IP interaction of NFTs

He added that it’s advantageous successful the aboriginal signifier of NFTs to ain related patents arsenic it could supply a competitory borderline and forestall others from utilizing “similar exertion without permission.”

According to a Jan. 5 tweet from Kondoudis, applications relating to NFTs totaled 7,746 successful 2022, a astir 260% summation from 2021.

— Mike Kondoudis (@KondoudisLaw) January 5, 2023

In a abstracted tweet connected the aforesaid day, helium added applications pertaining to the metaverse totaled 5,850 past year, a astir 206% summation from 2021.

View source