Ford Files 19 Trademark Applications Related To Metaverse Activities
Leading
automotive company Ford has filed 19 trademark applications related to
metaverse activities. The company hints at the potential launch of Ford-branded
NFTs (non-fungible tokens) on its marketplace and also refers to the offering
of virtual models of its cars, including the Mustang, Mustang Mach-E, and the
Bronco.
Ford Hints at Metaverse Move
Ford,
one of the biggest U.S.-based automotive brands by sales, has filed several
trademark applications to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), preparing
for a potential move into the metaverse. The company is seeking to expand its
activities, including the offering of Ford-branded NFTs on an NFT
marketplace of its own. These NFTs might contain text, audio, or video related
to the brand.
The
applications seek to protect the digital representation of some of Ford’s most
popular models, including the 150 Lightning, Lincoln, Ford, Lightning, Bronco,
Explorer, Raptor, Mustang Mach-E, Transit, Escape, Expedition, Maverick,
Ranger, and Mustang.
This
includes digital clothing containing references to the brand and digital spare
parts of the previously mentioned models that are covered in the trademark
applications. This might be one of the first steps in an organized digital
strategy for Ford, according to USPTO-licensed attorney Mike Kondoudis, who
claimed the company was making a "big move" into the metaverse with
these filings.
Ford’s Digital Expansion
This
move by Ford is not surprising, given that the company had previously
explained that it was considering the digital world to create new ways to expand
its business. In September, Ford Global Brand Merchandising Director Alexandra
Ford English stated:
"Anywhere
you go around the world, you find passionate Ford fans, and we want to offer
them an inspiring collection of merchandise and accessories, and potentially
even digital products like NFTs."
Ford
is the latest in a line of companies that have already adopted these digital
worlds and products as part of their growth strategies. The French automaker Renault also
made a move in this direction, inking a partnership with The Sandbox, a
metaverse platform, to present virtual automotive experiences with products of
the brand.
Other
brands such as Hyundai, a Korean car company, are also getting into the
metaverse by presenting some of their future automotive products in a metaverse
known as Zepeto.
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