CRYPTOCURRENCY
Meta's Digital Assets Expansion: A Scrutiny by Maxine Waters
Congresswoman Maxine Waters scrutinizes Meta's trademark applications, filed in March 2022, suggesting the company's continued involvement in the digital assets ecosystem, despite previous assurances of no ongoing projects in this area.
Google Sues Unknown Entities for Malware Scheme Disguised as AI Chatbot Bard
Google is suing individuals for a malware distribution scam involving false AI chatbot ads, aiming to protect users and intellectual property amid growing digital security challenges.
Fujitsu Files Trademark for Crypto Brokerage Services
Japanese tech giant Fujitsu has filed a trademark application for a new branding that aims to offer financial services, including cryptocurrency brokerage services, to customers. Fujitsu has been showing growing interest in Web3 technology and launched a Web3 acceleration platform in February to support startups and partner companies in creating a diverse ecosystem of Web3 applications. The move comes as financial regulators in Japan call for stricter banking rules for the crypto sector.
Lightning Labs and Tari Labs agree to halt Taro protocol development
Lightning Labs and Tari Labs agreed to halt the development of the Taro protocol, after a temporary restraining order was converted into a preliminary injunction by the courts. The order was issued due to Tari Labs' claims that the name Taro infringed on its trademark rights. Lightning Labs is now unable to update or announce any milestones of the protocol until a court decision is reached.
Nissan Expands Web3 Efforts with Trademarks and Metaverse Auto Sales
Nissan has filed four new Web3-related trademarks in the US and is experimenting with auto sales in the metaverse in Japan. The trademarks cover its Infiniti, Nismo, and Nissan brands and include plans for virtual goods and a nonfungible token (NFT) marketplace. Nissan Japan is conducting a three-month "demonstration experiment" of its virtual store "Nissan Hype Lab," allowing customers to "study, consult, test drive and purchase Nissan vehicles" while in the metaverse. The company's moves are in line with other car manufacturers, including General Motors and Ford, who have also been actively filing trademark applications for Web3, crypto, NFTs, and the metaverse.
Jimmy Fallon Fights Subpoena in NFT Legal Battle
Lawyers for Jimmy Fallon have filed a petition to quash a subpoena requiring him to testify in the Yuga Labs Inc. v. Ripps et al. case, stating that he has no connection to the dispute. Meanwhile, Getty Images has partnered with NFT platform Candy Digital to offer rare photos in NFT form, starting with photographs from its 1970s music and culture collection. The NFT market is experiencing growth, with marketplace volume increasing for the fourth consecutive month in February. To provide more comprehensive insights into the NFT economy, Forkast Labs has launched a series of NFT indexes, including the Forkast 500 NFT index that measures performance across 21 blockchains.
Multinational Corporations Continue to File Trademarks in Web3, NFTs, and Metaverse
Multinational corporations, including General Motors, Lacoste, and Walmart, have continued to file trademark applications in Web3, NFTs, and the metaverse, despite the broader market downturn. In February alone, General Motors filed for two new trademark applications covering Chevrolet and Cadillac brands, while Lacoste filed five trademark applications for "CHAMPS-ELYSEES." Walmart also filed trademark applications for the "SamsClub" name and logo. Even amid the bear market, record numbers of trademark applications have been filed for NFTs, metaverse, and crypto-related products in 2022.
NanoLabs sues Coinbase over Nano trademark infringement
NanoLabs, the company behind digital currency Nano, has filed a legal complaint against Coinbase in the California Northern District Court for alleged trademark infringement. The complaint states that Coinbase's Nano Bitcoin futures contract and Nano Ether futures contract products infringe on NanoLabs' trademark rights, causing economic damage and harm to its brand identity. NanoLabs is seeking at least $5 million in damages, an injunction against Coinbase, and forfeiture of all profits made using Nano trademarks.
Trademark Applications Show Western Union Entering Crypto Space
Western Union has registered trademark applications associated with cryptocurrency and related financial instruments.
US' 2022 Web3 Trademark Filings 3 Times Over 2021's Total So Far
In 2021, a total of 2,142 NFT-related trademarks were filed, but by the end of September 2022, there were at least over 6,000 such trademarks submitted, data shows.