trademark

Mean Girls set to make Web3 comeback as “crypto-collectibles”

Newly filed trademarks from Paramount Pictures suggest elements of the teen cult classic may come back in the form of “crypto-collectibles” and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

American teen comedy Mean Girls (2004) may soon be making a Web3 comeback, with recent trademark filings by Paramount Pictures revealing plans to expand the brand into “crypto-collectibles.”

According to tweets shared by licensed trademark attorney Mike Kondoudis, Paramount Pictures filed two trademark applications on Sept. 7 for the early 2000s teen comedy starring former Disney actress Lindsay Lohan.

The trademark applications cover “downloadable multimedia files containing artwork” which are authenticated by nonfungible tokens (NFTs), as well as “downloadable virtual goods” including crypto-collectibles and NFTs.

The application also covers transferring and accessing crypto-collectibles, NFTs, and “application tokens.”

Mean Girls is a 2004 teen comedy film that later developed a significant cult following, spawning countless fan-made memes and reaction GIFs. It’s considered one of the most quotable movies of all time and has even led to a national Mean Girls Day every year on Oct 3. 

The application follows only a day after mass media conglomerate Viacom International filed a similar trademark application aimed at expanding The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brand into the virtual world.

The number of companies filing trademarks for crypto-collectibles, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and the Metaverse is continuously growing.

Recently, Cointelegraph reported that the number of trademarks filed in the Web3 space was on course to surpass that of 2021, as more companies are expected to join in the rush to secure a piece of the web3 pie.

Related: Iconic brands including Nike, Gucci have made $260M off NFT sales

Recent trademarks in the NFT and Metaverse space ranges from luxury designer brands, such as Hérmes to Sony Music Entertainment, to race car brand Formula One.

Data published by Dune Analytics report that high-profile brands such as Nike, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Adidas, and Tiffany & Co. have already amassed a combined $260 million from sales of NFTs, making the adoption of NFTs a highly lucrative and profitable addition to existing brands looking to expand into Web 3.

Ford prepares to enter the Metaverse with virtual automobiles and NFTs

A trademark application covering its future efforts in the Metaverse and NFT space comes only a month after the company announced huge staff cuts.

American car manufacturer Ford Motor Company is the latest car brand prepping its entry into the world of nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and the Metaverse — filing 19 trademark applications across its major car brands. 

United States Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) licensed trademark attorney Mike Kondoudis revealed in a Wednesday tweet that the company had filed a total of 19 trademark applications covering its car brands including Mustang, Bronco, Lincoln, Explorer and F-150 Lightning, among others. 

The trademark applications cover virtual cars, trucks, vans, SUVs and clothing for its brands and also cover a proposed online marketplace for NFTs. 

According to USPTO documents filed by Ford on Sept. 2, the car manufacturer plans to create downloadable artwork, text, audio and video featuring its cars, SUVs, trucks and vans, which will be authenticated by NFTs.

The company also revealed plans for “downloadable virtual goods,” namely “computer programs” featuring vehicle parts and accessories and clothing for use in “online virtual worlds,” including online trade shows conducted in virtual reality and augmented reality.

There are also intentions to create a marketplace to promote the “digital artwork of others” through a website, along with “online retail store services featuring non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and digital collectibles.”

Related: Lamborghini-backed GT racing team to authenticate car parts using NFTs

Ford’s decision to enter into the Web3 space comes less than a month after Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford and CEO Jim Farley announced massive staff cuts from its global workforce to reduce company expenditure.

Ford is not the first car company to make a move into the Metaverse space.

Automobile companies like Nissan, Toyota, and Hyundai have announced plans to expand into the rapidly growing Metaverse space, while luxury car manufacturers such as Bentley and Lamborghini have already rolled out NFT collections.

Hermès reveals plans for Metaverse fashion shows, crypto, and NFTs

The trademark application comes months after filing a lawsuit against NFT project MetaBirkins for allegedly using its Birkin brand to sell digital collectibles.

Luxury brand Hermès is laying the groundwork for its entrance to Web3 after filing a trademark application covering NFTs, cryptocurrencies, and the Metaverse. 

According to an Aug. 26 filing to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the trademark covers downloadable software to view, store and manage virtual goods, digital collectibles, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs “for use in online worlds.”

It also filed trademarks for “retail store services featuring virtual goods” as well as fashion and trade shows in “online virtual, augmented or mixed reality environments” and for “providing an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of virtual goods.”

The new trademark application comes months after filing a lawsuit against Metabirkins founder, Mason Rothschild in January for allegedly using the brand’s Birkin name to make money from sales and resales for his NFT Metabirkins collection.

In a 47-page legal complaint against Rothschild, Hermés alleged that the “MetaBirkins brand simply rips off Hermés’ famous Birkin trademark by adding the generic prefix ‘meta’ to the famous trademark Birkin”, thereby creating the illusion that the MetaBirkins brand was a part of the luxury Hermés’ Birkin brand.

Related: Metaverse is a key factor in long-term NFT success, says new research

The lawsuit against Rothschild could be one of the reasons why the company has gone ahead to file its own protections that will cover the Metaverse, crypto, and NFT-related products and tokens.

The luxury brand is neither the first or the likely the last to make moves in the Metaverse.

Earlier this year, Decentraland’s Metaverse Fashion Week, a four-day digital fashion event featuring wearables on virtual runways saw the appearance of luxury brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Etro, Tommy Hilfiger, Estée Lauder and Elie Saab.

Last month, data from Dune Analytics revealed that leading brands including Nike, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Adidas, and Tiffany had amassed a combined $260 million worth of sales from NFTs.

Hermès reveals plans for Metaverse fashion shows, crypto and NFTs

The trademark application comes months after filing a lawsuit against NFT project MetaBirkins for allegedly using its Birkin brand to sell digital collectibles.

Luxury brand Hermès is laying the groundwork for its entrance to Web3 after filing a trademark application covering nonfungible tokens (NFTs), cryptocurrencies and the Metaverse. 

According to an Aug. 26 filing to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the trademark covers downloadable software to view, store and manage virtual goods, digital collectibles, cryptocurrencies and NFTs “for use in online worlds.”

It also filed trademarks for “retail store services featuring virtual goods” as well as fashion and trade shows in “online virtual, augmented or mixed reality environments” and for “providing an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of virtual goods.”

The new trademark application comes months after filing a lawsuit against Metabirkins founder Mason Rothschild in January for allegedly using the brand’s Birkin name to make money from sales and resales for his NFT Metabirkins collection.

In a 47-page legal complaint against Rothschild, Hermès alleged that the “MetaBirkins brand simply rips off Hermès’ famous Birkin bag trademark by adding the generic prefix ‘meta’ to the famous trademark Birkin,” thereby creating the illusion that the MetaBirkins brand was a part of the luxury Hermès’ Birkin brand.

Related: Metaverse is a key factor in long-term NFT success, says new research

The lawsuit against Rothschild could be one of the reasons why the company has gone ahead to file its own protections that will cover the Metaverse, crypto and NFT-related products and tokens.

The luxury brand is neither the first or the likely the last to make moves in the Metaverse.

Earlier this year, Decentraland’s Metaverse Fashion Week, a four-day digital fashion event featuring wearables on virtual runways, saw the appearance of luxury brands including Dolce & Gabbana, Etro, Tommy Hilfiger, Estée Lauder and Elie Saab.

Last month, data from Dune Analytics revealed that leading brands including Nike, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Adidas and Tiffany & Co. had amassed a combined $260 million worth of sales from NFTs.

Merch and perfume: Formula One trademark filing paves the way for F1 NFTs

F1 files trademark for 2023 Las Vegas Strip Circuit Grand Prix, listing NFTs and cryptocurrency in a variety of potential goods and services on offer.

Formula One could introduce nonfungible tokens (NFTs), digital collectibles and cryptocurrency payment support ahead of the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix in 2023.

F1’s trademark department registered two new trademark filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on August 23. The filings outline the trademark and logo for the Las Vegas Strip Circuit and a wide-ranging list of goods and services that the event intends to offer during next year’s race.

Of particular interest were specific mentions of NFT and cryptocurrency-related offerings as well as blockchain-powered transactional services. The filing notes NFTs that will represent ownership of a wide variety of real-world items, including vehicle equipment, decorative items, clothing, bags, wallets and even “perfumery.”

The filing also notes “downloadable computer software for managing cryptocurrency transactions using blockchain technology,” potentially suggesting that the race and its organizers are gearing up to support cryptocurrency payments.

This is further illustrated by another clause describing financial goods and services covering the breadth of cryptocurrency and blockchain-based payment systems:

“Financial services including e-wallets and cryptocurrency; electronic transfer of crypto assets; currency exchange services; currency trading; virtual currency services; electronic funds transfer provided via blockchain technology; financial transactions via blockchain; cryptocurrency services, namely, providing a digital currency or digital token for use via a global computer network; provision of tokens; provision of non-fungible tokens.”

The provision of cryptography software is also present, with both filings listing downloadable software for processing cryptocurrency transactions using blockchain technology.

Cointelegraph has reached out to the Formula One trademark department to ascertain the finer details of the filing for the Las Vegas Grand Prix and whether the extensive list of goods and services signal confirmation of intent for NFT and cryptocurrency offerings.

Related: Uncertainty around French laws prompted F1 racers to remove crypto branding: Report

Formula One has been a major advertising platform for various cryptocurrency exchanges over the past few years. Crypto.com’s branding has been prominently visible on F1 track advertising boards worldwide for the past year after becoming a global partner of the roadshow. As previously reported, several exchanges and cryptocurrency firms sponsor F1 teams, with eight of the 10 teams backed by industry participants.

The Sin City is set to host its first-ever Formula One race after the much-loved motorsport group announced in March 2022 that Las Vegas would be the newest addition to the race calendar in 2023.

That leaves a little over a year until the first race cruises through the Las Vegas Strip in a night race that will become the third stop in the United States for the F1 roadshow next November.