non-fungible tokens

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In a major Web3 trademark infringement case, NFT creators prevail over those with a bad-faith intent to profit.

By Stephen P. Wink, Tiffany M. Ikeda, Adam Zuckerman, and Deric Behar

On April 21, 2023, Yuga Labs, the original creators of the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) non-fungible token (NFT) collection, successfully moved for summary judgment on two of its key claims arising under the Lanham Act against Ryder Ripps and Jeremy Cahen (collectively, the Defendants). The US District Court for the Central District of California (the Court) considered Yuga’s motions to determine that NFTs are goods for purposes of the Lanham Act of 1946 and that the Defendants had violated the Lanham Act through false designation of origin and cybersquatting.

NFT creators should craft strategies to avoid minting or auctioning NFTs that use the likeness of an individual without their consent.

By Ghaith Mahmood, Nima H. Mohebbi, and Tara McCortney

As non-fungible tokens (NFTs) increase in popularity, the so-called common law “right of publicity” may create additional legal risks for NFT minters. The common law right of publicity prevents the commercial exploitation of an individual’s identity without that person’s consent.[1] Most U.S. states have defined a right of publicity and, correspondingly, a standard tort for violation of that right — frequently referred to as the tort of appropriation.

While the law is similar across most US jurisdictions, California — the heart of the entertainment industry — has particularly well-developed authority in this area. For this reason, this blog post focuses on California law in describing the unique issues that NFTs may present.

Learn about 2021’s defining cryptoasset in a new infographic video and webcast, the latest in a Latham series covering NFTs.

By Christian F. McDermott

Latham & Watkins Technology Transactions Partner Christian McDermott introduces the basics of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in this short infographic video. In particular, he addresses the following questions:

  • What are NFTs?
  • How are they created and managed?
  • How does blockchain technology fit in?
  • What are the benefits of NFTs?
  • What legal issues do NFTs present?

An NFT is a special, one-of-a-kind digital asset that raises a number of novel legal questions.

By Christian F. McDermott and Calum Docherty

Earlier this month, a blockchain firm bought a US$95,000 print by the British street artist Banksy, only to burn it in a livestreamed video and re-sell it for US$380,000 as a virtual asset called a non-fungible token (NFT) — sparking a flurry of news around what may prove to be this year’s hottest crypto craze.

How did the Banksy sale work? The group explained that by removing the physical piece from existence and releasing the NFT as digital art, the value of the physical piece will be moved onto the NFT. This trend isn’t just setting the art world ablaze; in fact, musicians and even footwear companies are finding ways to break into the space.

As the market heats up for art-related NFTs, buyers should be aware of limitations on their rights to use those works.

By Ghaith Mahmood, Jordan Naftalis, and Veronica Ye

The convergence of blockchain technology and creative intellectual property (IP) through a non-fungible token (NFT) is having a mainstream moment. Media stories abound with reports of artwork, tweets, and other digital media selling for millions of dollars on blockchain marketplaces when they are represented by an NFT.

This post explains how NFTs are linked to sales of digital media, and the practical IP considerations that can arise when buying or selling the creative works that the NFTs are attached to.

As the market for NFTs heats up, market participants should remain mindful of the regulatory implications of complex schemes.

By Stephen P. Wink, Miles P. Jennings, Shaun Musuka, and Deric Behar

As the current crypto boom has progressed, it seemed Decentralized Finance (DeFi) had cemented its position as the dominant new narrative of this cycle. This view is supported by the tens of billions of dollars that have flowed into DeFi protocols over the past 12 months. Yet amid renewed public interest, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) show signs that they should not be overlooked in discussions regarding the hottest new developments in the crypto space. As with any fast-moving market driven by explosive consumer interest and waves of money, regulators will likely take an interest and scrutinize market practices against existing regulations.