Copyright Office and USPTO Announce NFT Study and Roundtables

The United States Copyright Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office have published a Federal Register notice announcing a joint study between the United States Copyright Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to investigate various intellectual property issues that arise from the use of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Senators Patrick Leahy and Thom Tillis requested, in a letter dated June 9, 2022, that the Copyright Office and the USPTO conduct a joint study and address issues related to NFTs and intellectual property rights in consultation with the private sector, drawing from the technological, creative, and academic sectors.

The notice seeks written responses from the public to several questions in order to assist in the preparation of a report for Congress. It also announces that the Copyright Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office will hold virtual public roundtables in January 2023.