Chinese authorities are yet to register 16,000-plus applications for metaverse-related trademarks.
Liu Xiaojie, writing in YICAI Global said that 90 per cent of the applications are still in the 'pending review' status and 165 have been rejected, according to corporate data platform Tianyancha.
Multiple subsidiaries under gaming giant Tencent Holdings have submitted a host of applications since September last year, according to Tianyancha.
One by its music arm Tencent Music Entertainment Technology, for the phrase 'rhythm metaverse,' has already been rejected, said Liu.
Car manufacturers BYD, Great Wall Motor, Geely Holding Group and herbal tea maker Wanglaoji are also in line. Shenzhen-based BYD said earlier that although the firm has no plans to do any business in the metaverse, it has applied for a trademark to protects its rights.
Metaverse is an alternate digital reality brimming with new money-making opportunities.
The Chinese officials frown on 'newsjacking,' or the leveraging of a brand on the back of the latest trends. The government strongly opposes 'newsjacking' and the hoarding of trademarks without any purpose, China National Intellectual Property Administration said on February 21, reported YICAI Global.
The metaverse is a new technology and it cannot be trademarked by individuals, otherwise it will be easily misunderstood, an official from China National Intellectual Property Administration said earlier.
( With inputs from ANI )
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