On May 1st, Legend Holdings, an American movie production company, filed Web3 trademark applications for its upcoming ‘Godzilla x King Kong: The New Empire’ film, which is scheduled for release in March of 2024. The trademarks applications, if approved, cover a wide variety of Web3 uses, including non-fungible tokens, the metaverse, and virtual currency.
Mike Kondoudis, a trademark attorney based in Washington D.C., shared the news on Twitter Monday:
Specifically, the trademark applications include:
- Downloadable multimedia files authenticated by non-fungible tokens
- Downloadable virtual goods, including in-game resources and virtual currency
- Digital collectibles created with blockchain-based software
- Virtual reality headsets and viewers
Non-fungible tokens and virtual currency are two components of metaverses, shared social spaces where people can interact, shop, and create experiences. While currently most metaverses function through standard internet browsers, many believes that virtual and augmented reality technology will play a role.
Thus far, Legend Holdings has not released a statement as to what specifically it has planned with its trademark applications. Over the past two years, there has been a rush from entities to trademark their brand in the Web3 space, as many see it as the future of e-commerce.
Mainstream Companies Ape into Web3
Trademark applications are typically a company’s first step when entering into a new sphere, one that signals to their customers that they will be releasing products in that area. Usually, they come with a specific clause called “intent to use,” which means they have specific plans to offer products or services, rather than simply protect their brand from counterfeiters.
Some of the companies that have filed Web3 trademark applications with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) include British bank HSBC, car companies Mercedes-Benz and BMW, Ticketmaster, and liquor producers Jack Daniels and Moët Hennessy. The closest comparison to Legend Holdings is Paramount Pictures, which filed Web3 trademarks for the ‘Mean Girls’ franchise eight months ago.
Even individuals are getting into the mix. Basketball legend Magic Johnson filed trademark applications for non-fungible tokens and the metaverse two months ago, indicating he wanted to build an NFT marketplace. Kondoudis told Rarity Sniper at the time that he expected the former Los Angeles Lakers player to use the trademarks in 1-2 years.
As the trademark applications show, companies believe in Web3, non-fungible tokens, and the metaverse, and are likely biding time until the end of the bear market to jump in with their plans. At Rarity Sniper, we’ll be here to report back when they do.