Sony Interactive Entertainment, the company behind PlayStation, recently published a patent that shows it’s exploring NFTs and blockchain technology in video games.
The patent is titled ‘NFT Framework for Transferring and Using Digital Assets Between Game Platforms.’ It was filed last year, but news of the patent was released on Thursday. The patent’s summary claims that because of current technological limitations, systems don’t let owners use their NFTs across multiple platforms and games.
Sony believes that game functionality can be “enhanced by enabling gamers and/or spectators to exclusively use the asset“ and transfer rights to others through NFTs. The patent proposes a new framework to enable a seamless method of trading digital assets between gaming platforms.
Furthermore, the patent mentions support for buying and selling NFTs to other players through a digital ledger-powered marketplace. And there is an additional patent expressing Sony’s alternative plans to rent NFTs to players and stream viewers.
Of course, the existence of these patents doesn’t guarantee Sony will move into Web3. According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the company files nearly a thousand patents per year. But if Sony does bring NFT interoperability to PlayStation, it could have a huge impact on the gaming industry and the future of blockchain-based games.
Patents & Trademarks in Web3 Are Growing
News of the new patents is exciting for Web3 gamers and PlayStation users, but Sony isn’t the only company that’s filed trademark applications with the USPTO recently. At Rarity Sniper, we’ve covered several stories of companies filing for NFT, metaverse, and blockchain-related patents. Here are some recent stories.
First, on December 14th, Mercedes-Benz filed five trademark applications related to NFTs and the metaverse. The trademarks cover NFT-backed media, virtual merchandise, and cryptocurrency trading.
Just a day later on December 15th, the British bank HSBC filed several Web3 related trademark applications with the USPTO. The trademarks are for NFTs related to text, audio, music, and video. They also cover computer programs for cash cards, bank cards, checks, and charge cards to use online.
Lastly, in November, BMW filed a Web3 trademark application with the USPTO that will allow BMW’s logo to be used in several Web3 products and services. They include NFT-authenticated media, virtual vehicles and clothing, virtual metaverse environments, and more.
It’s difficult to predict what Sony will do with its Web3 patent. But news of the tech conglomerate’s potential plans in Web3 is still big for the gaming industry. At Rarity Sniper, we’ll keep our ears to the ground for any new developments in the story.