On 18 October 2023, the French National Assembly voted in favour of a law aiming to secure and regulate the digital space (“Loi visant visant à sécuriser et réguler l’espace numérique” or “SREN”), otherwise called the “Sorare Act.” This new development marks a first step towards the establishment of a regulatory framework dedicated to games integrating non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and monetisation models based on digital assets.

These new provisions are aimed at the creation of a new category of games under French law called games with monetisable digital objects (“jeux à objets numériques monétisables” or “JONUM”). This new regime will enter into force ‘on an experimental basis and for a period of three years’ from the promulgation of the law and will authorise Web3 games with monetisable digital objects (including NFTs).

The Sorare Act defines JONUMs as “game elements, which only confer on players one or more rights associated with the game, and which may be transferred, directly or indirectly, for consideration to third parties,” while excluding digital assets covered by 2° of Article L. 54-10-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code.

France is one the first jurisdictions in the world to create a specific regime for companies using NFTs as part of their games and the objective is to provide certainty to the industry.

Please reach out to our team if you need further information on this new development. 

First publication: K&L Gates Hub, in collaboration with Lucas Nicolet-Serra

K&L Gates ranked “Highly Recommended 1/2” with Claude-Etienne Armingaud.

Source: Leaders League

(more…)

K&L Gates ranked “Recommended” with Claude-Etienne Armingaud.

Source: Leaders League

(more…)

Practice head(s): Claude-Etienne Armingaud

Source: Legal 500

Virtual products, the metaverse, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have recently been expanding and receiving considerable attention from investors, the general public; as well as the art world – within the span of a year, NFT-backed virtual works of art have been reaching new height, from Beeple, Everydays: The First 5000 Days (March 2021 – US$ 69.3) to The Merge (December 2021 – US$ 91.8). Today, the most valuable living artist in history is a virtual work of art author (Pak, author of The Merge).

With the rise of this new market, numerous stakeholders have tried to expand the protection of these digital creations through trademark registration before the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) or its national counterparts in the European Union. However, they also found that the current 11th Nice Classification lacked clarity and precision on that matter. Indeed, the “virtual goods” may represent an electronic version of an existing tangible goods, but the applicants were likely to face rejection from the trademark offices, as the classification as a “good” still requires a physical embodiment.

In June 2022, the EUIPO finally addressed this issue to provide clarity, by going on the record to consider virtual products (including NFTs, or more likely the underlying virtual works to which such NFTs would be appended) as digital content or images, hence belonging to Class 9 which encompasses instruments for science or research, audio-visual and information technology equipment, as well as security and safety equipment. This new approach is part of its 2023 draft Guidelines which aims at harmonising IP practices across the EUIPO, increasing predictability and ensuring compliance, consistency and coherence.

Consequently, virtual goods and NFTs will be added to the upcoming 12th edition of the Nice Classification. However, the EUIPO rightfully considers NFTs to be certificates, distinct from the virtual element they authenticate. A specific wording has been established in the draft directive, namely “downloadable digital files authenticated by non-fungible token”, the term “non-fungible token” being deemed, in and of itself, not acceptable by EUIPO without a proper link to the underlying asset.

The EUIPO is not going to further modify this Class to address all possible situation, but advises applicants to specify which content the virtual products are referring to, e.g.“downloadable virtual products, namely virtual pieces of furniture.

Concerning virtual services and NFTs, the actual principles are maintained and applicants need to refer to pre-established definitions.

This decision from EUIPO allows for the facilitation of virtual products and NFTs trademarks. Internal and external stakeholders have until 3 October 2022 to escalate observations on draft directives to the EUIPO.

First publication on the K&L Gates IP Blog in collaboration with Louise Bégué

K&L Gates ranked “Recommended” with Claude-Etienne Armingaud.

Source: Leaders League

(more…)

France is widely known for its author-centric intellectual property right (IPR) framework: except for a limited number of very specific situations, all IPR must be expressly assigned and there is no “work for hire” doctrine.

This situation is changing, further to Decree n°2021-1658 dated 15 December 2021, replicating the regime applicable to inventions and software created by employees or public servants to those made by natural persons accommodated by private or public law entities carrying out research.

This decree amended the French Intellectual Property Code (FIPC), by creating two new articles: L.113-9-1 (with regard to software IPR) and L.611-7-1 (with regard to patent IPR) FIPC.

(more…)

K&L Gates ranked “Highly Recommended” with Claude-Etienne Armingaud.

Source: Leaders League

K&L Gates ranked “Recommended” with Claude-Etienne Armingaud.

Source: Leaders League

Practice head:

Claude-Étienne Armingaud

Key clients

  • Kookai
  • Hyundai Motor Company
  • Nouvel Héritage
  • Nous – Concept Store
  • POC
  • Ravel Technology
  • AR24
  • Cybergun
  • Canal+

Work highlights

  • Assisted POC Sports with identifying and destroying counterfeit products seized by Belgian customs and implementing a successful process of customs enforcement of trade marks and intellectual property rights.
  • Representing Nous Concept in the defence of its trade marks in the context of litigation and subsequent trade mark fillings.
  • Assisting Jessy Séminor, a French start-up specialising in interior design, with various aspects pertaining to the development of its activities and the protection of its intangible assets and goodwill.

Source: Legal 500 – EMEA

(more…)