Since 2021, there have been active policy discussions in Japan regarding the protection of content in the metaverse, a virtual three-dimensional space on the Internet where many people can participate simultaneously, control their avatars, act freely, and interact with other participants. These policy discussions assume that the metaverse will expand over time, and that it is essential for content holders to consider IP protection in the metaverse.
In addition, the Unfair Competition Prevention Act (the “Act”), which was partially amended on June 7, 2023, allows for the regulation of product form imitation in the metaverse.
1. Necessity of IP Protection in the Metaverse
The development of the metaverse has resulted in the…
