In this week’s episode of The Legit Ledger, Sheppard Mullin attorneys Yasamin Parsafar and Jim Gatto are joined by Kevin Tian, Co-founder and CEO at Doppel, to discuss the detection and enforcement of IP infringement in Web3, including the types of breaches typically seen and the options available for enforcement once a potential violation is identified.
About Kevin Tian
Kevin Tian is a Silicon Valley veteran whose pre-Doppel career includes engineering stints at Uber and Lyft. Launched with co-founder and fellow ex-Uber engineer Rahul Madduluri in February 2022, Doppel indexes NFT data across various blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, and Flow, leveraging models that incorporate keywords and metadata to spot fraud. The Doppel platform is currently integrated with OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace, and in the process of integrating with others. Dapper Labs, one of the biggest names in the space and the company behind the NBA’s Top Shot NFTs, has already signed on as a Doppel client. The company has also begun piloting its product with Yuga Labs, creator of the Bored Apes Yacht Club (BAYC) collection, and is in the early design stages with a few others.
About Jim Gatto
Jim Gatto is a partner with the Intellectual Property Practice Group in Sheppard Mullin’s Washington, D.C. office, where he co-leads the Blockchain & Fintech Team. His practice focuses on blockchain, interactive entertainment, digital art, AI, and online gambling. He advises clients on IP strategies, development and publishing agreements, licensing and technology transaction agreements, and tech regulatory issues. Jim has been involved with blockchain since 2012 and has been recognized as a thought leader by leading organizations, including Best Lawyers in America 2021-2022; Cryptocurrency, Blockchain and Fintech Trailblazer, The National Law Journal, 2018; and Thought Leader on Blockchain & Cryptocurrencies, National Law Review, 2018.
About Yasamin Parsafar
Yasamin Parsafar is a partner with the Intellectual Property Practice Group in Sheppard Mullin’s San Francisco office, where she serves as co-leader of the firm’s Blockchain & Fintech team. Her practice focuses on protecting her clients’ intellectual property rights through counseling, prosecution, enforcement, and litigation. Yasamin leverages her litigation experience to strengthen and protect her clients’ intellectual property, manage risks, and position businesses to succeed in the event of a dispute. She frequently advises and protects brands venturing into web3 on various issues related to non-fungible tokens, metaverses, games, online marketplaces, and other platforms.
What We Discussed in This Episode
- What types of IP Infringement are we typically seeing with Web3, particularly with NFTs?
- How does Doppel identify and monitor IP infringement in Web3?
- Is Doppel’s computer vision component similar to digital fingerprinting, or is it something different?
- Doppel has already onboarded Ethereum and a couple of other chains. What have you done there so far, and what are your plans for the future?
- Once Doppel has identified a potential infringement, what steps can be taken to abate it?
- Can Doppel determine where an actual NFT file is stored?
- What is the process once the storage location is identified?
- How does Doppel’s technology work when a file is stored on a decentralized server?
- How does storage on a decentralized system impact enforcement?
- What does the UDRP process entail?
- Are there any significant differences when identifying NFTs associated with the metaverse compared to monitoring marketplaces?
- Can Doppel’s technology detect changes in dynamic NFTs?
Contact Information
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This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be construed as legal advice specific to your circumstances. If you need help with any legal matter, be sure to consult with an attorney regarding your specific needs.