Quick take:
- The trademark application indicates plans to offer NFT-backed virtual goods.
- The trademark also covers software for digital collectible marketplaces and registries.
- It also signals plans to offer NFTs featuring footage, highlights, data, and graphics of the PGA Tour.
The Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA) filed a new Web3 trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on Jul 20, indicating further plans for its foray into the NFT space, a tweet by trademark attorney Mike Kondoudis revealed.
The trademark registration is for international classes 9 and 41 covering the following:
- Downloadable computer programs for the creation and trade of digital collectibles, authenticated by non-fungible tokens via a blockchain network, in the field of sports entertainment, featuring footage, highlights, data, and graphics
- Downloadable computer software for managing digital collectible services
- A market for transactions and a registry for digital collectibles in the field of sports entertainment featuring footage, highlights, data, and graphics, using blockchain-based software technology and smart contracts
- Providing online non-downloadable virtual goods in the nature of digital collectibles in the field of sports entertainment, featuring footage, highlights, data, and graphics, authenticated by non-fungible tokens, using blockchain technology for use in virtual environments created for entertainment purposes
This move comes after PGA revealed in May that it was finalising deals with Sorare and Autograph to launch golf NFTs. Autograph, a sports and entertainment platform founded by Tom Brady, will create NFTs of Tour-licensed highlights, photos and data, while Sorare will offer digital trading card NFTs of PGA’s players.
As PGA is about to launch its own NFTs, the trademark registration marks the PGA’s move to protect its intellectual property in the NFT space.
Top-performing players who opt into the NFT programs will receive a lump sum participation payment based on their performance.
While professional golfers like Tiger Woods and Bryson DeChambeau have already independently launched NFTs, the PGA’s NFT programs are designed to put money directly in its players’ pockets by creating “incremental and perpetual royalties to players that require little to no time commitment.”
Golfing legend Tiger Woods happens to own equity in Autograph and sits on its board of advisors. Last September, he launched an NFT collection of 10,000 images of highlights throughout his career.
It is not yet known which golfers in the PGA will opt into the NFT programs offered by the association.
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