Assessing the Legal Feasibility of Trademark Protection in the Metaverse Through Registration

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Private and Islamic Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Master's degree, Private and Islamic Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The metaverse, a virtual world parallel to the physical environment, presents new opportunities for business owners. However, the emergence of this new realm also poses challenges for intellectual property rights holders, particularly trademark owners. This article examines trademark registration within the metaverse, addressing key questions such as: What specific regulations govern trademark registration in the metaverse? Is independent trademark registration required to secure exclusive rights in this virtual space? If so, what criteria must be fulfilled? How does metaverse trademark registration differ from registration in the physical world? Can existing physical-world trademarks be extended to the metaverse, or is new registration essential? Using an analytical-descriptive methodology and library research, this study highlights the importance of distinct trademark registrations for virtual goods and services within the metaverse. To protect trademarks in this digital environment, registration in metaverse-specific classes is necessary, regardless of prior physical-world registrations. Furthermore, to protect trademarks effectively in the metaverse, it is essential to enact new laws and regulations that account for the unique characteristics of this virtual space. Fundamental concepts such as the metaverse, virtual goods, and virtual trademarks require precise definitions, and appropriate classifications for metaverse goods and services must be established.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

منابع

 
Akefi Ghaziani, M., Milani, S. M., & Akefi Ghaziani, V. (2022). Metaverse and Legal Challenges in the Field of Property Law. New Technology Law. 6(3), 143-153. [In Persian]
Breen, N., Schuermann, J., & Fryer, J. (2023). UKIPO Issues Trade Mark Guidance on NFTs and Metaverse Goods and Services. Reed Smith LLP. Available at:
            https://www.reedsmith.com/en/perspectives/2023/04/ukipo-issues-trade-mark-guidance-on-nfts-and-metaverse-goods-and-services.
Cantley, B., & Dietrich, G. (2022). The Metaverse: Virtual World with Real World Legal Consequences. Rutgers Computer and Technology Law Journal, 49(1), 1-25.
Chandrakar, P. (2022). An Analysis on Law and Metaverse. Indian Journal of Integrated Research in Law, 2(1), 1-11.
Cooper, J. M. (2023). Intellectual Property Piracy in the Time of the Metaverse. IDEA: The Law Review of the Franklin Pierce Center for Intellectual Property, 63(3), 479-517.
Darabpour, M. R. (2023). Metaverse: What it Is and its Legal Challenges (Administration, Persons, and Property). New Technology Law. 7(4), 66-81. [In Persian]
European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). (2023). Guidelines for Examination of European Union Trade Marks (Version 1.0). Part B. Section 3. 308. Available at:
            https://guidelines.euipo.europa.eu/2058843/2065747/trade-mark-guidelines/6-25-downloadable-goods-and-virtual-goods.
European Union Intellectual Property Office. (2023, September 22). PT Virtual Goods, Non-Fungible Tokens and the Metaverse [Key user newsflash]. Retrieved on April 12, 2024. Available at:
            https://euipo.europa.eu/ohimportal/en/key-user-newsflash/-/asset_publisher/dIGJZDH66W8B/content/pt-virtual-goods-non-fungible-tokens-and-the-metaverse/el.
Hackl. Cathy. Lueth. Dirk. Di Bartolo. Tommaso. (2022). Navigating the Metaverse: A Guide to Limitless Possibilities in a Web 3.0 World. John Wiley & Sons.
Hilbert, R. S. (2022). Trademarking Virtual Goods in the Metaverse: just because You Can't Touch Them Doesn't Mean They Aren't Real. Florida Entertainment and Sports Law Review, 1(2), 81-98.
Kalpokas. Ignas. Kalpokienė. Julija (eds.), (2023). Regulating the Metaverse: A Critical Assessment. (1st ed.). London: Routledge.
Kennedy, J. (2023). Metaverse Property: Advocating for the Regulation of Metaverse Land and Property through Real Estate Legal Regime. Ohio State Business Law Journal, 17(2), 323-353.
Latifzadeh, M., & Ghabooli Dorafshan, S. M. M. (2023). An Inquiry into the Legal Issues of the Metaverse with an Emphasis on How to Protect Children. New Technology Law, 4(8), 182-198. [In Persian]
Marr, Bernard. (2019). What Is Extended Reality Technology? A Simple Explanation for Anyone. Forbes Media. Retrieved February 22, 2024, from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2019/08/12/what-is-extended-reality-technology-a-simple-explanation-for-anyone/?sh=6dc2b0247249.
Metaverse Summit. (2023). The Three Pillars of the Metaverse: A Dive into Immersion, Persistence, and Decentralization. Available at:
            https://metaverse-summit.org/the-three-pillars-of-the-metaverse-a-dive-into-immersion-persistence-and-decentralization/.
Murray, M. D. (2022-2023). Trademarks, NFTs, and the Law of the Metaverse. Arizona Law Journal of Emerging Technologies, 6, i-16.
Nice Classification. World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO). Available at:
            https: //nclpub.wipo.int/enfr/.
NOTOMORO. (2023). Metaverse Interoperability and the Future of the Metaverse. Web isoft. Retrieved April 21, 2024. Available at:
            https://webisoft.com/articles/metaverse-interoperability/.
Park. Kathryn. (2022). Trademarks in the Metaverse. WIPO Magazine. Available at:
            https://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2022/01/article_0006.html.
Qaim Fard, S. M., & Mohseni, F. (2023). Defining Cyberspace: Conceptual and Legal Dimensions. Law of New Technologies, 4(8), 1-19. [In Persian]
Ramirez-Montes, C. (2023). Eu Trademarks in the Metaverse. IDEA: The Law Review of the Franklin Pierce Center for Intellectual Property, 63(3), 555-[vi].
Safitra, M. F., Alhari, M., Putri, D., Lubis, M., Fakhrurroja, H., & Praditha, V. (2023). Metaverse Trend: Definition, Application, Opportunities, Law, and Ethics. In Proceedings of the 2023 6th International Conference on Communication and Computer Systems (ICOCO). IEEE. 160-165.
Sasani, J. (2018). Trademark Registration and Exclusive Use Rights (A Comparative Study). Comparative Studies of Justice and Equity. 2(1), 24-55. [In Persian]
Saw. Cheng Lim. Chan. Samuel Zheng Wen. (2024). The Subsistence and Enforcement of Copyright and Trademark Rights in the Metaverse. Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice, 0(0). Jpad125. 1-15.
Spajić. Jelena. Mitrović. Ksenija. Lalić. Danijela. Milić. Bojana. Bošković. Dunja. (2022, September 21). Personalized Brand Experience in Metaverse. 10th International Conference on Mass Customization and Personalization – Community of Europe (MCP ‐ CE 2022). Serbia. 158-166.
Srivastava, A. (2023). Metaverse and intellectual property rights. Jus Corpus Law Journal, 3(3), 195-210.
Tabatabaei Hesari, N. (2017). The Role of "Registration" in the Process of Transferring Industrial Property Rights: An Analysis of Industrial Property Rights Transfer Registration Systems in the World. Private Law Studies Quarterly. 2(47), 289-308. [In Persian]
Tenkhoff. Christian. Grotkamp. Philipp. Burgess-Tate. Sylvia. (2023). Brands in the Metaverse: The Concept of ‘Interdimensional Confusion’ Between the Physical and the Virtual Space under EU Trade Mark Law. GRUR International. 72(7). 643-649.
Vaughan-Jones, J. (2022). Fashion Forward: How Luxury Brands, Handbags, and NFTs Are Shaping the Future of Trademark Law in the Metaverse and Beyond. North Carolina Journal of Law & Technology, 24(2), 134-170.
World Invention Intellectual Property Associations (WIIPA) (2023). Trademarks in the Metaverse. Available at:
            https://wiipa.org/1858/trademarks-in-the-metaverse/.
 
 

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 17 August 2024
  • Revise Date: 29 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 17 December 2024

Share

How to cite

Statistics