McDonald’s files trademarks for Metaverse restaurant, virtual food products, and more

McDonald’s is now ready to jump into the world of Metaverse as it has filed to trademark the McMetaverse restaurants. The fast-food chain is applying for intellectual property on things related to its own virtual world.

McDonald’s trademark filing is centered on its McMetaverse restaurants, and based on the reports, it has submitted applications for 10 trademarks for its stores, including the McCafe. Apparently, the burger chain is laying out the groundwork as it prepares to make its move into the virtual space.

The news came out only now but Business Insider reported that the actual filing at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office took place on Friday, Feb. 4. The trademarks reportedly include one for virtual food and beverage products and for operating a virtual restaurant online featuring home delivery. There is one for entertainment services as well and it includes online actual and virtual concerts.

As seen on McDonald’s application for Metaverse trademarks, the brand will be able to provide various types of downloadable multimedia files such as audio and video files, non-fungible tokens or NFTs, and artworks.

For the metaverse restaurant trademark, the virtual store will be able to accept orders for deliveries. The transaction could be done online and in person.

Josh Gerben, a trademark attorney and founder of Gerben Intellectual Property, tweeted about McDonald’s trademark applications on Thursday, Feb. 10. He also mentioned the company’s plan to set up its virtual restaurant with a home delivery service. The lawyer added he believes more major firms will be making the same filing in the coming months.

“When you see this critical mass of large companies making this many new trademark filings, it’s very clear this is coming,” Gerben told Forbes in a separate report with regards to McDonald’s move to secure trademarks. “I think you are going to see every brand that you can think of making these filings within the next 12 months. I don’t think anyone wants to be the next Blockbuster and just completely ignore a new technology that’s coming.”

Finally, Gerben said that McDonald’s will not have any problems with getting its trademarks approved but the processing of the requests will take longer. He said it takes eight to nine months for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to review the filings.