After openly denouncing Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) a few months ago, Kanye West appears to be changing his stance. He might soon launch his own NFT line, according to 17 fresh trademark filings centered on his YEEZUS moniker.
What had happened previously?
Kanye West, a rapper, producer, and fashion designer posted an Instagram photo of a handwritten letter in January that said, “Do not ask me to do a fucking NFT” (adding, “Ask me later”). West’s tweet followed a viral interview with Paris Hilton and Jimmy Fallon in which they discussed their Bored Ape NFTs and other celebrity NFT sponsorships.
According to freshly filed trademark applications, despite his apparent apprehension, he may now be planning a move into the market.
West requested authorization from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to create “blockchain-based non-fungible assets,” “currency and tokens,” and “online retail shop services incorporating… digital art,” according to newly submitted trademark applications. Josh Gerben, a trademark attorney and the founder of Gerben Perrott, confirmed the story on Twitter.
The documents merely provide a summary of the following items that West intends to launch. It’s still unknown what kinds of NFTs and Metaverse experiences the artist might release. The trademarks are filed on a 1B basis, which suggests that the applicants have a genuine intention to use the trademarks in the future, but they don’t have to specify when that would happen.
In contrast, 1A applications are filed after a trademark has already been used.
If West ventures into the Web3 domain with NFTs and metaverse experiences, he’ll find himself in a crowded field with other well-known rappers. Snoop Dogg, for example, has partnered with The Sandbox, an Ethereum-based metaverse gaming environment, and has released a number of NFTs. He also professes to be Cozomo de’ Medici, a pseudonymous high-value NFT collector.
