Recently, corporations have shown ever-growing interest in virtual reality, commonly known as the metaverse.
Yum! Brands, the parent corporation of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, has filed various trademark applications for non-fungible tokens (NFT) and metaverse goods and services, following the footsteps of its multinational fast-food chain competitor McDonald (NYSE: MCD).
According to the Washington DC-based trademark attorney Michael Kondoudis, the filings were sent to the United States Patent and Trademark Office on March 25, 2022. This indicates the fast-food giant’s efforts to expand these brands into virtual products and services and NFTs, including online virtual restaurants, virtual food and beverage products and retail services.
Yum! Brands enters the crypto world. Source: CoinCulture
According to Kondoudis, Yum! Brands is well aware of the metaverse’s potential and preparing its trademarks and brands for the virtual economy.
He went on to say that these trademark filings follow the lead of other food industry participants such as Burger King, McDonald’s, Panda Express and Panera Bread in preparing for Metaverse participation.
Over the next twelve months, it is expected that the restaurant and food/beverage sectors will see many businesses filing trademark registrations for NFTs and virtual goods and services as they are well aware of the need for brand protection in the metaverse.
It’s also worth noting that Inspire Brands, Inc., the owner of the Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Baskin-Robbins, Jimmy John’s, and Sonic trademarks, has also recently filed several trademark applications.
Meanwhile, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta (NASDAQ: FB), previously known as Facebook, said last week that it’s about to enter the metaverse, taking big steps toward introducing virtual services and cryptocurrency trading.
However, Meta is only one among many companies, corporations, personalities, and even sports teams investing in and promoting the metaverse via trademark filings.