Contemplating the metaverse
Opportunities and risks
Metaverse series #1: Why should we care about the metaverse? Because it is the next iteration of the internet...
Authors: Jen Calver, Julian Cunningham-Day
The "metaverse" is one of the hottest buzzwords in tech and is essentially the vision of a massive, interconnected network of virtual spaces, that uses technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality to fully immerse users in a 3D virtual world. While the metaverse is at an early stage of its evolution and the hype is undeniable, we are seeing increasing commentator agreement that the metaverse will be the next iteration of the internet: and as such it is a key topic to explore.
Read the first article in our Metaverse series
Metaverse series #3: Looking at metaverse(s) with antitrust (3D) glasses
Authors: Violette Grac-Aubert, Lauren O’Brien
A key parameter of any competition law analysis, is first to identify the relevant market definition. However, to date, there is no firm industry definition, let alone a market definition for the “metaverse sector”. So how will the market come to be defined?
Read the third article in our Metaverse series
Metaverse series #5: Payments in the metaverse – what could metaverse money look like and how might it work?
Authors: Jen Calver, Florian Reul, Alex Roberts, Simon Treacy
Whatever form of metaverse ultimately emerges, it will require huge technological developments in terms of network infrastructure, interoperability between platforms and the consumer-interface. What is clear right now, is that forms of payment will be fundamental to “VRcommerce”, which makes the metaverse an important market for all players in the payments space to consider.
Read the fifth article in our Metaverse series
Metaverse series #7: DAOs – decentralisation, collaboration and risk management in the metaverse
Authors: Jen Calver, Maximilian Mann, Mario Pofahl
Even today, Decentralised Autonomous Organisations (DAOs) have assets under management worth billions of dollars. In the metaverse, DAOs may be used to capitalise and manage new metaverse platforms as well as fund and govern collaboration within existing metaverse platforms. These novel types of organisations offer a means to decentralisation, providing greater transparency and transaction certainty while potentially reducing transaction costs. However, whilst some might consider DAOs to be essential pillars of the future metaverse, their decentralised and autonomous nature also raise fundamental legal risks to be managed.
Read the seventh article in our Metaverse series
Metaverse series #9: Real estate in the metaverse - oxymoron or a reality of the future?
Authors: Hannah Day, Maria Sevlievska
The first post in this metaverse series explained that the metaverse aims to become a mass interconnected network of virtual spaces, which extends our off-line reality to the online world. So what does this mean for Real Estate?
Read the ninth article in our Metaverse series
Metaverse series #11: The metaverse in Asia – a topic to watch
Authors: Roger Li, Jennifer Lim, Jasmine Yung, Jen Calver
In this blog series we have been considering a variety of legal issues that are arising with the development of the metaverse. Given that the metaverse could “unlock a trillion-dollar opportunity in Asia”, in this post we highlight some of the key legal issues specific to three important Asian jurisdictions: Singapore, Hong Kong, and mainland China – each with different regimes and approaches for business to navigate.
Metaverse series #2: Working in the metaverse – emerging employment issues
Authors: Sinead Casey, Laurie Ollivent
Hybrid and remote working have undoubtedly accelerated the use of virtual working for many workforces and whilst the metaverse might still be in its infancy, employment issues are already starting to emerge. Although this is new ground and the issues will evolve as we find our virtual feet in the metaverse (do avatars even have legs yet?), we consider key employment and HR issues for employers to be mindful of when offering workspaces in the metaverse.
Read the second article in our Metaverse series
Metaverse Series #4: IP in the Metaverse - Expanding the reach of intangible rights
Authors: Paul Joseph, Julia Schönbohm, Tom De Coster
As new products and services are introduced into the rapidly expanding metaverse, we look at how IP protection and enforcement strategies will need to be international, pro-active and inventive to keep pace with developments.
Read the fourth article in our Metaverse series
Metaverse series #6: Data in the metaverse – more personal than ever
Authors: Jen Calver, Guillaume Couneson, Manon Habets
The metaverse refers to digital platforms characterised by virtual or augmented reality, decentralisation, A.I. and blockchain-based applications (sometimes also identified as ‘Web 3.0’). User activity - often effected through avatars - has the potential to generate massive amounts of data, much of which could be (highly) personal.
Read the sixth article in our Metaverse series
Metaverse series #8: Metaverse, beware: Competition law is versatile, and the EU's DMA is ‘future proof’
Authors: Lauren O'Brien, Violette Grac-Aubert, Erasmia Petousi
The European Commission has now entered the metaverse debate with a paper offering an antitrust regulator’s perspective on the metaverse and what it could mean for EU competition law enforcement. European regulators already possess well-tested tools that will apply equally to the metaverse – and the paper agrees.
Read the eighth article in our Metaverse series
Metaverse series #10: 3D fashion and the digital revolution of the fashion industry
Authors: Jennifer Calver, Laetitia Nicolazzi, Joshua Klayman, Tom De Coster
In the digital world, the question of what to wear is a complicated one, yet one that designers, brands and consumers are eager to explore. While the industry is starting to get answers to certain foundational legal questions, new questions will continue to emerge as technology adoption in the fashion industry increases.
