About Intellectual Property IP Training IP Outreach IP for… IP and... IP in... Patent & Technology Information Trademark Information Industrial Design Information Geographical Indication Information Plant Variety Information (UPOV) IP Laws, Treaties & Judgements IP Resources IP Reports Patent Protection Trademark Protection Industrial Design Protection Geographical Indication Protection Plant Variety Protection (UPOV) IP Dispute Resolution IP Office Business Solutions Paying for IP Services Negotiation & Decision-Making Development Cooperation Innovation Support Public-Private Partnerships The Organization Working with WIPO Accountability Patents Trademarks Industrial Designs Geographical Indications Copyright Trade Secrets WIPO Academy Workshops & Seminars World IP Day WIPO Magazine Raising Awareness Case Studies & Success Stories IP News WIPO Awards Business Universities Indigenous Peoples Judiciaries Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Cultural Expressions Economics Gender Equality Global Health Climate Change Competition Policy Sustainable Development Goals Enforcement Frontier Technologies Mobile Applications Sports Tourism PATENTSCOPE Patent Analytics International Patent Classification ARDI – Research for Innovation ASPI – Specialized Patent Information Global Brand Database Madrid Monitor Article 6ter Express Database Nice Classification Vienna Classification Global Design Database International Designs Bulletin Hague Express Database Locarno Classification Lisbon Express Database Global Brand Database for GIs PLUTO Plant Variety Database GENIE Database WIPO-Administered Treaties WIPO Lex - IP Laws, Treaties & Judgments WIPO Standards IP Statistics WIPO Pearl (Terminology) WIPO Publications Country IP Profiles WIPO Knowledge Center WIPO Technology Trends Global Innovation Index World Intellectual Property Report PCT – The International Patent System ePCT Budapest – The International Microorganism Deposit System Madrid – The International Trademark System eMadrid Article 6ter (armorial bearings, flags, state emblems) Hague – The International Design System eHague Lisbon – The International System of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications eLisbon UPOV PRISMA Mediation Arbitration Expert Determination Domain Name Disputes Centralized Access to Search and Examination (CASE) Digital Access Service (DAS) WIPO Pay Current Account at WIPO WIPO Assemblies Standing Committees Calendar of Meetings WIPO Official Documents Development Agenda Technical Assistance IP Training Institutions COVID-19 Support National IP Strategies Policy & Legislative Advice Cooperation Hub Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) Technology Transfer Inventor Assistance Program WIPO GREEN WIPO's Pat-INFORMED Accessible Books Consortium WIPO for Creators WIPO ALERT Member States Observers Director General Activities by Unit External Offices Job Vacancies Procurement Results & Budget Financial Reporting Oversight

The Metaverse and Intellectual Property

The metaverse, a borderless, virtual world encompassing work, play, entertainment and more, is considered a next evolution of the Internet changing the world, as we know it. While the concepts are still emerging, there is a common understanding that the metaverse has the potential to unlock a completely new digital economy as it is transforming the global market place, processes, assets and enterprises worldwide.

The metaverse is a real opportunity to drive economic growth and bring its benefits to everyone, everywhere. With digitalization going forward, IP will be one of the key drivers fostering innovation in technologies that will build the metaverse and in providing a basis for generating economic activity and growth.

Seventh session of the WIPO Conversation

The Seventh Session of the WIPO Conversation took place on March 29 and 30, 2023 and had a look at the wide spectrum of frontier technologies enabling the metaverse, such as AI, blockchain and the NFTs, emerging AR and VR technologies, the Internet of Things and data processing and discussed the challenges the metaverse poses to the existing IP system. It sought to bring together all stakeholders to provide a map for navigating these challenges to ensure innovation continues to grow and develop for the benefi t of all.

The Seventh session of the WIPO Conversation – Intellectual Property and the Metaverse attracted more than 3700 registrants from 144 countries.

Video on demand | Meeting documents | News

March 29 and 30, 2023

conceptual representation of new technologies for the WIPO Conversation on Frontier Technologies and IP

Watch the event

Catch up on WIPO's IP and Metaverse Conversation

The session discussed how metaverse relates to diverse IP rights, including patents, copyright and trademarks. The agenda provides a good overview of the topics and panels.

If you have missed the WIPO Conversation on IP and the Metaverse or would like to revisit some of the discussions, the meeting is available as video on demand.

A summary of the discussions on IP and the Metaverse will be available soon.

Watch Idiat Shiole from Nigeria bringing African fashion to the metaverse.

Discover Pakistan's first metaverse - Cloud City, created by Narsun Studios.

Metaverse stories

Explore WIPO articles and stories on the topics most discussed in the field of IP and the metaverse.

(Photo: naratrip wboonroung / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

The metaverse, NFTs and IP rights: to regulate or not to regulate?

Over the last year, countless articles have anticipated global transformation through the metaverse and NFTs (non-fungible tokens), fueling interest around the question of whether there is an urgent need for new regulations to adapt to these innovations. In other words, should the law adapt to the metaverse or should the metaverse adapt to the law?

Trademarks in the metaverse
(Photo: Diamond Dogs / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Trademarks in the metaverse

While the metaverse is still developing, it has gained a foothold in a number of sectors and is expected to expand and become an ever richer environment for users. For brand owners, protecting their brands in the metaverse will be critical, and getting ready to play in the new meta sandbox will require a legal strategy.