China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) said on Monday that 16,000 trademarks containing the word “metaverse” have been filed. 

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Fast facts

  • CNIPA opposed the high number of filings, vowing to crack down on “malicious registrations” of trademarks, such as piggybacking on the rising popularity of the metaverse.
  • In January, the CNIPA said that metaverse-related trademarks are unlikely to pass its screening, adding that technology itself cannot be trademarked. 
  • None of the applications from major tech companies have been approved as of press time, according to CNIPA records.
  • The China Banking & Insurance Regulatory Commission last Friday issued a warning against illegal fundraising exploiting fake metaverse projects, blockchain games, digital real estate and cryptocurrencies. 

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