As content-based NFT projects seek to provide NFT owners with value beyond being scarce collectibles, they should consider whether to grant owners rights to commercialize the content underlying the NFTs.

By Ghaith Mahmood, Heather Lui, and Justin Tzeng

As the ecosystem for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) continues to mature, the discourse around content-based NFTs[1] has increasingly focused on the utility that accrues to NFT holders. NFT holders increasingly want to understand what specific bundle of rights and privileges

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.