Nike “slips” into the Metaverse: the shoes of the world’s most famous mustache, along with T-shirts, caps and anything else, will end up in the virtual world of Zuckerberg
Last week Mark Zuckerberg revealed to the world the future of the internet from his perspective, also changing the name of the company that runs Instagram, Facebook, Messenger and company. Looking ahead, Zuckerberg sees a big virtual world where people can interact as if they were in reality, through an avatar.
It will be called Metaverse, and it will take some time before we can see how it will develop in practice what at the moment is nothing more than an idea. An idea, however, on the realization of which we are already beginning to work. Zuckerberg opened the dances by exposing himself to the whole world, without being able to go back unless he made a fool of himself, and now a giant like Nike is moving, laying the foundations to expand its business to the Metaverse. After all, if those who enter the Metaverse have to build a virtual identity with human features, will they need to dress up? This explains Nike’s move.
Also Nike “flies” towards the Metaverse
The global clothing giant has (wisely) preferred to move in advance by depositing some new trademarks to be used to sell Nike-branded products in the Metaverse. The move of the “moustache” indicates at least two things: that Zuckerberg’s project is serious and will certainly go ahead even if the timing is still unknown, since a company of Nike’s caliber would not have invested economic resources without having assurances that they can “return” through sales, and that Nike does not want to miss the appointment with the Metaverse.
According to what the U.S. Patent Office has indicated, Nike filed the trademark on October 27 together with the slogan, known everywhere, Just Do It, and the “moustache”. The following day, however, it filed with the same office the Air Jordan and Jumpman logos, leading to a total of seven different applications. The intention is therefore clear: to protect the intellectual property of the brand by depositing in advance the “bases” of the company as the name, logo and slogan, and two of the most popular brands so that no one else can use them.
Nike hires designers of virtual goods
Nike, asked by the local press, has not commented on the matter, but people close to the company trust that the Metaverse is considered a priority and that it will go ahead convinced on the road of virtual. In support of this there are several clues, such as the advertisements for professionals who know how to create virtual design objects. In one of them it would be read that “the role offered is for Digital Product Creation, a team in charge of Nike’s digital and virtual revolution”.
These clues, which are prior to the filings at the U.S. patent office, are now joined by the trademarks themselves. According to a lawyer who deals with patent-related legal issues, they are indicative of Nike’s clear intention to espouse the Metaverse or at least to see strong future growth in virtual goods: “They are filing new applications for the company’s major brands and products, saying they will introduce and sell virtual shoes, headgear or T-shirts.”