La Liga giants FC Barcelona and Real Madrid join forces to file a Metaverse trademark application encompassing different activities and services they will conduct in the Metaverse.
Two of the biggest soccer clubs in Spain, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, have filed a joint Metaverse trademark application. Michael Kondoudis, a United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) licensed trademark attorney, announced the development on his official Twitter account.
According to Kondoudis, the Metaverse trademark application of the two Spanish clubs is for international classes 9, 25, and 41. A class 9 trademark allows the clubs to initiate an electronic wallet and applications for managing cryptocurrency-related transactions over the blockchain. Class 25 covers sportswear. On the other hand, a class 41 trademark covers virtual reality games, interactive entertainment, and other virtual reality-related experiences.
The move comes despite the evident deflation of the “Metaverse hype” following the continuous decrease in the trading volume of NFTs in the second quarter of 2022. It seems not even the dreaded bear market is enough to discourage organizations, brands, and celebrities around the world from applying for Metaverse trademarks.
El Clasico Rivals’ Metaverse Trademark Application
The joint Metaverse trademark application is a shock to many, especially football fans since Real Madrid and Barcelona have always been deemed rivals. Apparently, the rivalry started in the early 1900s and has been sustained through to the present time.
Madrid and Barcelona are two of Spain’s biggest cities, but there is more to the football clubs’ rivalry that extends outside the playing field. The two cities are on opposing political spectrums. Madrid proudly represents Spanish nationalism and reflects the values of Spain’s royal family, while FC Barcelona upholds Catalan sentiments and proudly represents Spain’s Catatonia region.
Nevertheless, the Metaverse trademark application is a joint venture of the two football giants. As mentioned earlier, the trademark application covers the activities and services the two teams will conduct in the Metaverse.
Aside from a purported cryptocurrency wallet, the Metaverse trademark includes the possibility of selling virtual merchandise—non-downloadable virtual clothing, footwear, and headgear. It will also cover virtual reality gaming, downloadable blockchain transaction management software, and more.
Incidentally, this isn’t FC Barcelona’s maiden attempt at a cryptocurrency-related project. In June 2020, the football club, in collaboration with Socios.com, flaunted its fan token, $BAR, on the Chiliz platform, a famous blockchain-oriented outlet for sports and entertainment.
Then, last year, the club launched an NFT collection of some of its most iconic moments on the field through collaborative work with Ownix, an NFT marketplace.
Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are just two of the many sports teams that have transcended the divide between the real and virtual worlds. In March, European soccer club Paris Saint-Germain started building its Web3 presence by filing a series of trademark applications.
Former Real Madrid player David Beckham likewise accelerated his Web3 campaign with NFT and Metaverse trademark applications. And Tom Brady, considered the GOAT of American football, inked a multi-year NFT deal with ESPN around the year’s second quarter.
Indeed, sports teams are now leveraging the Metaverse and bringing their activities into the virtual world. They are doing so to expand their reach, create new profit sources, and improve their relationship with fans.
Real Madrid and FC Barcelona’s joint filing of the Metaverse trademark application couldn’t have come at a better time. The two teams are looking to jumpstart their La Liga campaign on a strong note this weekend.
Real Madrid will try to build on its success from the last season after it clinched the domestic and the UEFA Champions League title. On the other hand, FC Barcelona will try to start the season with a clean slate after Lionel Messi departed, leaving the team trophyless last season.
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