Request Trial
shutterstock_1938872662_iqoncept
24 November 2021CopyrightDinusha Mendis

Copyright and NFTs: new wine in old bottles?

Non-fungible tokens—also known as NFTs or “nyfties”—are digital assets on the secure blockchain. They are mainly used to sell exclusive, digital items online and since a digital artwork tokenised as a NFT sold for $69 million at Christies in March 2021, it has expanded into various other industries, ranging from sport, fashion, music, films, entertainment to many more.

Already registered?

Login to your account

To request a FREE 2-week trial subscription, please signup.
NOTE - this can take up to 48hrs to be approved.

Two Weeks Free Trial

For multi-user price options, or to check if your company has an existing subscription that we can add you to for FREE, please email Adrian Tapping at atapping@newtonmedia.co.uk


More on this story

Trademarks
Selling the intangible in fashion: what does it mean for trademark protection?
15 June 2022   As major fashion brands launch their own non-fungible tokens, others are testing the limits of trademark enforcement in the digital realm, say Cynthia Walden and Sarah Kelleher of Fish & Richardson.
Trademarks
The challenges of cryptocurrency, NFTs, and smart contracts on litigation
1 February 2022   In the Bitcoin whitepaper, Satoshi Nakamoto detailed a “purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash” using timestamps to form a chain of transactions to keep a “public history of transactions”.
Copyright
Tarantino pursues Pulp Fiction NFT sales despite Miramax suit
6 January 2022   Film director Quentin Tarantino has confirmed auction dates for the sale of non-fungible tokens of his landmark film, Pulp Fiction, despite facing a copyright infringement suit by movie studio, Miramax, over these plans.


Editor's picks

Who are the world’s best in-house counsel? Final call for the leading corporate IP professionals
In-House
Who are the world’s best in-house counsel? Final call for the leading corporate IP professionals
7 January 2026

Editor's picks

In-House
Who are the world’s best in-house counsel? Final call for the leading corporate IP professionals
7 January 2026
Patents
PTAB year in review: A shifting landscape and outlook for 2026
2 January 2026
Patents
UPC: A review of 2025 and what to expect in 2026
30 December 2025
In-House
Three in-house counsel perspectives on 2025–2026: Part 2
24 December 2025
AI
What counts as an ‘infringing copy’? Getty takes AI fight to appeals court
22 December 2025
Patents
Streaming setback: Nokia loses bid to shut down UK SEP dispute
19 December 2025

More articles

Who are the world’s best in-house counsel? Final call for the leading corporate IP professionals
Why the US is poised for a patent litigation surge in 2026
Top Gun: Maverick suit nosedives on copyright and contract claims
Betty Boop and early Disney characters enter US public domain
Trademark and brands expert returns to Womble Bond after spell in-house
UK trademarks in 2025: 3 landmark rulings and what they mean
UPC: A review of 2025 and what to expect in 2026
Amazon v Interdigital: A jurisdiction challenge