From IP to NFT
Podcast #4 - A discussion with Oliver Scherenberg
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Talking to a lawyer is not always the sign of a great day – unless that lawyer is Oliver Scherenberg and you’re talking about IP law in the web3 and NFT space.
Honestly, this was one of my favorite discussions in a long time. As a lawyer, Oliver thinks about a different set of questions than so many of us when he approaches the web3 space, and as such, he seems to offer limitless insights. These insights are especially relevant in light of the recent discussion, confusion, frustration, and focus on IP in the world of Web3.
We’ve seen projects change their approach to IP. We’ve seen a VC brand suggest new guidelines for IP. But to understand what all this means we first need to understand the basics: What IP usage rights come with the purchase of an NFT? What is CC0? How can a Web3 project change the usage rights after launch? None of this is simple, but it helps to have someone like Oliver explain and share his POV.
For background purposes, Oliver is the founder of Scherenbert Legal and Licensing and an expert in the Intellectual Property space. As NFTs and digital assets grew in prominence, Oliver expanded his focus to include IP advisory in this area. He is currently in the process of launching web3lex. It’s a tool that is described as a legal education tool for the web3 community - and it is launching soon. He talks about it more in the podcast so you’ll have to listen to learn more.
Honestly, I wish I could talk to Oliver every week as I am sure I would have new questions each time. Unfortunately, he would probably want a retainer for that.
Note that nothing in this podcast should be viewed as legal or financial advice.
PODCAST TOPICS WE EXPLORE IN OUR CONVERSATION:
In our discussion, Oliver shares the story of how he missed Bitcoin and how that created an initial barrier to his diving into digital assets. That said, he is here now and has quickly become one of the foremost thinkers around IP in the space.
The topics we discuss include:
NFTs and the IP issues and questions that digital assets create
What people are really buying when they buy an NFT
What is CC0, and what it means for NFTs and NFT projects
How IP rights impact NFT communities
IP issues should be considered in both launching NFT projects and in partnering with existing NFT projects
His ambitions for web3lex, the free-to-access legal education platform that he is in the process of building
Obviously, nothing he says should be considered legal advice, but it is very insightful all the same. He makes the issues easier to understand.
LINKS TO THE PODCAST:
You can listen to the Podcast by following one of the below links to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Or you can search for Brand N3xt on your favorite streaming platform.
LINKS FROM THE SHOW
Several projects were mentioned during my discussion with Oliver. For your benefit, I've attached links to those projects such that you can learn more:
CREDITS
Host: Justin Peyton
Guest: Oliver Scherenberg
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Nothing in this newsletter is intended as legal advice or financial advice. This newsletter is for educational and entertainment purposes. It is not investment advice of any kind, and no discussion should be viewed as a recommendation to make any financial decisions related to assets of any kind.