Shaquille O’Neal is entering the Metaverse.
Shaq has filed three trademarks that entail NFTs, virtual footwear, and more, as initially reported by Footwear News‘ Shoshy Ciment.
The filings, in partnership with Authentic Brands Group, were issued in late December. The three trademark applications for the word “SHAQ” apply to the following:
- Entertainment services, namely, providing online, non-downloadable virtual footwear, clothing, headwear, eyewear, bags, backpacks, sports equipment, art, toys and accessories for use in virtual environments; providing a website featuring non-downloadable videos featuring SHAQUILLE ONEAL; providing a website featuring non-downloadable photographs; providing online non-downloadable game software
- Retail store services featuring virtual goods, namely, footwear, clothing, headwear, eyewear, bags, backpacks, sports equipment, art, toys and accessories for use online; online retail store services featuring virtual merchandise, namely, footwear, clothing, headwear, bags, backpacks, sports equipment, art, toys and accessories; provision of an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of downloadable digital art images, music and video clips authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
- Downloadable virtual goods, namely, computer programs featuring footwear, clothing, headwear, eyewear, bags, backpacks, sports equipment, art, toys and accessories for use online and in online virtual worlds; downloadable multimedia file containing artwork, text, audio, and video relating to Shaquille ONeal authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs); downloadable audio and video recordings featuring Shaquille ONeal authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs); downloadable image files featuring Shaquille ONeal authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
It’s no surprise to see Shaq enter the Metaverse with his robust entrepreneurial track record alongside ABG, which manages Shaw’s branded merchandise. ABG and Shaq have been growing recently with a handful of acquisitions, including Forever 21, Barneys New York, and JCPenney.
Shaq & ABG join adidas, Nike, Under Armour, and others into the Web 3.0 landscape with NFTs and virtual experiences.
“Just like you might buy a branded product in the real world that says ‘Shaq’ on it, now you might buy one of those in the virtual world,” said trademark attorney Josh Gerben of Gerben Law Firm to Footwear News. “All brands are going to want to have some trademark protection around goods that they could sell in the virtual world.”
Stay tuned to SoleSavy for more industry news, inside and out of the Metaverse.
