米国特許商標庁と米国著作権庁が非代替性トークン(NFT)*に関する知財政策についてパブコメ募集する旨のアナウンスがありました。
NFTはアートを中心に盛り上がりを見せていましたが、知財界でも知財をNFT化するという動きも出てきています。
www.patent-topics-explorer.com
Noticeによると、パブコメ期限は"no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 9, 2023"となるそうです。
また、Notice内に現在パブコメとし収集したい質問事項も載っているので併せて確認するとよいかもしれません。
例えば、「現在の知的財産法は、NFTに関連する知的財産の保護及び執行に対処するのに適切か」という質問があったり。
8. Are current IP laws adequate to address the protection and enforcement of IP in the context of NFTs? If not, please explain why, including any gaps in current IP laws, and describe any legislation you believe should be considered to address these issues.
Federal Register :: Study on Non-Fungible Tokens and Related Intellectual Property Law Issues
その他にも、「NFTの実際の使用または意図された使用に関連して経験した知的財産関連の影響について説明し てください。関連する場合、以下の文脈で生じた法的紛争とその結果について、関連する司法手続の引用を含めて記述してください。」といった質問があったります。
9. Please describe any IP-related impacts those in your field or industry have experienced in connection with actual or intended uses of NFTs. When relevant, please describe any legal disputes that have arisen in the following contexts, and the outcome of such disputes, including citations to any relevant judicial proceedings:
a. The relationship between the transfer of an NFT and the ownership of IP rights in the associated asset;
b. The licensing of IP rights in the asset associated with an NFT;
c. Infringement claims when either (i) an NFT is associated with an asset in which another party holds IP rights, or (ii) IP rights in the asset associated with an NFT are owned by the NFT creator;
d. The type and/or scope of IP protection afforded to the NFT creator, including when that party is not the creator of the associated asset; and
e. The application of one or more of the exclusive rights under 17 U.S.C. 106 to transactions involving NFTs.
Federal Register :: Study on Non-Fungible Tokens and Related Intellectual Property Law Issues
その他にも、Joint round tableが来年1月に開催されることも発表されました。
各ラウンドテーブルのお題は下記になるようです。
In addition to the request for comments, the two offices are also seeking panelists for a series of three virtual public roundtables that will take place in January 2023:
- Roundtable 1: Patents and NFTs (January 10, 2023)
- Roundtable 2: Trademarks and NFTs (January 12, 2023)
- Roundtable 3: Copyright and NFTs (January 18, 2023)
The roundtables will focus on IP considerations as they relate to NFTs. Additional information about each roundtable will be posted on the corresponding event pages listed above as it becomes available.
Joint study on intellectual property rights and non-fungible tokens | USPTO
それぞれのラウンドテーブルは、オンラインで見れるようで、後日登録フォームがでるそうです。また、録画も閲覧できるようです。
Register to watch the roundtables: Each roundtable will be held virtually and streamed live the day of the event. Registration links for signing up to watch each roundtable live will be posted on the corresponding event pages listed above at a future date. The roundtables will also be recorded and made available for later viewing.
Joint study on intellectual property rights and non-fungible tokens | USPTO
