Mercedes-Benz Hints at Metaverse, NFT Plans in Trademark Filing

The latest automotive business with moves in the metaverse is German company Mercedes-Benz Group AG.

The company has recently filed for five metaverse and NFT-related trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

The five applications for “Mercedes Benz, Mercedes, S-Class, G-Class, and Maybach” establish trademark protection for any future NFT collections, marketplaces for NFTs and virtual vehicle parts as well as to enable cryptocurrency trading.

One trademark filing for the company’s “Maybach” model described plans for “crypto-collectibles” featuring digital or physical animal furs, blankets, carpets, rugs and mats.

Another filing for its “S-Class” model said it may have “audio recordings, video recordings, image files, music, and multimedia files containing artwork, text, audio, images, or video featuring collectible items authenticated by NFTs.”

These NFTs “featuring digital art” or a “representing a collectible item,” according to the applications, are “for use in online virtual worlds” in reference to metaverse platforms. 

This isn’t Mercedes’ first foray with blockchain, as it has already tested out implementing the technology to ensure consistent documentation of contracts along the supply chain.

Earlier this year, Mercedes subsidiary Daimler South East Asia developed a blockchain-based data-sharing platform built on Polygon. The platform allows users to exchange data such as insurance information or clinical trials with other businesses. 

Additionally, the company’s Formula One Racing team Mercedes-AMG Petronas had a partnership with crypto exchange FTX. It suspended the sponsorship and removed the FTX logo from race cars after its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in November.

Mercedes-AMG Petronas and FTX had also released a line of NFTs collectibles for the Miami Grand Prix, with free-to-claim limited edition ticket stubs for the race on the now-defunct FTX NFT marketplace.

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