The leading NFT marketplace OpenSea has filed two new trademark applications to register OpenSea and its “sailboat” logo. Ozone Networks, the owner of OpenSea, submitted new trademark applications to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on April 15, 2022.
NFT trademark attorney Michael Kondoudis informed via tweet that the applications cover a variety of virtual goods and services, including:
- Cryptocurrency and digital currency wallets
- NFTs and NFT minting
- Cryptocurrencies, digital tokens, and digital collectibles
- Digital, virtual, and cryptocurrency trading
Kondoudis also stated that these filings are a logical step to protect the OpenSea brand as it moves to solidify its position as a leading provider of cryptocurrencies and NFT trading services today and in the coming virtual economy of the Metaverse.
The move seems like OpenSea may be sensing some competition and is preparing its trademark and brand for more active participation in the virtual economy of the metaverse.
Recently, the New York Stock Exchange filed a trademark application for similar services. It filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to register the name “NYSE” to provide an online marketplace for buyers, sellers, and traders of digital goods and NFT.
According to Kondoudis, the number of trademark filings for NFT, crypto, and virtual products and services from the financial services sector will increase in the next 12 months as brands come to recognize the need for protection for virtual and cryptocurrency financial services.
