Bored Ape Yacht Club wins legal battle, Mandala Metaverse selects Polkadot, Square Enix partners with Elixir Games, and Cricket Stars launches on Tezos

Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) creators Yuga Labs have scored a key win in their long-running court battle with Ryder Ripps, the co-creator of copycat NFT project RR/BAYC. Yuga Labs initially filed a complaint against Ryder Ripps and co-founder Jeremy Cahen back in July 2022, alleging that the duo had engaged in trademark infringement, false advertising, and unfair competition, among other things. In a pre-trial summary judgment ruling on April 21, a U.S. district court in central California found that Ripps and Cahen had infringed Yuga Lab’s trademarks with their RR/BAYC NFT collection. The Court further ruled that Yuga Labs is entitled to an injunction and damages, the latter of which will be determined at trial. The case highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in the burgeoning NFT market.

In other news, Mandala Metaverse has chosen Polkadot to host its first major NFT drop on April 28. Mandala Metaverse is a story-based project that has content spanning across TV, graphic novels, gaming, and AR. Its gaming elements have been developed in Epic Game’s Triple-A quality Unreal Engine. The drop, called the “Cryptonauts,” features different avatars that will serve as playable characters in the game. The artwork was illustrated by comic artist Bruce Zick, who has worked on projects for giants such as Disney and Marvel. The decision to take the Cryptonauts NFTs to Polkadot is a significant development for the platform, which is not traditionally known for hosting gaming and NFT projects. The move underscores the potential of Polkadot’s future-proof NFT applications and its ability to offer innovative ways to use NFT assets.

In addition, Square Enix has partnered with Web3 infrastructure firm Elixir Games to bring blockchain gaming to the mainstream. The move was announced on April 19, but specific details on the partnership are sparse at this stage. Elixir Games hosts both traditional and Web3 games on its platform, and also offers Web3 distribution features for its partnered games, such as NFT sales and marketplaces. As such, Square Enix will likely take advantage of those features when launching games via Elixir. This partnership is a significant development for the blockchain gaming industry, as it brings the mainstream gaming industry closer to the world of Web3.

Finally, a free-to-play multiplayer NFT cricket strategy game called “Cricket Stars” has been launched on the Tezos blockchain. The game is being led by Tezos India, an organization that focuses on developing projects on Tezos, in partnership with esports game publisher GoLive Games. The game offers player cards that can be used to affect the game or traded on the marketplace. It also offers player vs player modes, knockout tournaments, and esports tournaments. Despite the name, no licensing deals with actual cricket stars appear to be in place. The launch of Cricket Stars on the Tezos blockchain is a positive development for the platform, as it highlights the versatility of the technology in the gaming industry.

Overall, the developments in the NFT and blockchain gaming space are indicative of a growing interest in Web3 technologies. The Bored Ape Yacht Club legal victory is a significant win for the NFT market, as it reinforces the need for creators to protect their intellectual property rights. The launch of the Cryptonauts NFT drop on Polkadot highlights the platform’s potential for future-proof NFT applications. The Square Enix and Elixir Games partnership brings blockchain gaming closer to mainstream gaming. Finally, the launch of Cricket Stars on Tezos highlights the versatility of blockchain technology in the gaming industry and its potential for broader adoption.

As Web3 technologies continue to evolve and mature, it is likely that we will see more significant developments in the NFT and blockchain gaming space. The integration of these technologies into mainstream industries, such as gaming and entertainment, is an exciting development that could have far-reaching implications for the future of digital content creation and distribution. As more creators and developers experiment with these technologies, it is likely that we will see new and innovative use cases emerge that push the boundaries of what is possible with NFTs and blockchain gaming.

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Manchester United Selects Blockchain Firm Tezos as Technical Partner

Manchester United has inked a multi-year deal with Tezos, a proof-of-stake (POS) blockchain provider, as the club’s training kit sponsor. 

The new partnership came after the deal expired with AON last season; Manchester United’s first-team squad will, therefore, team up with a Tezos-branded training kit. 

In a statement, Man. Utd. said that it chose Tezos because it is one of the providers of sustainable, reliable, and advanced blockchains needed to revolutionize how the club and fans interact.  

Victoria Timpson, Manchester United’s CEO of Alliances and Partnerships, welcomed the partnership and said:

“We are especially pleased to be partnering with one of the most eco-friendly blockchains, using technology that is energy-efficient, limits carbon emissions, and lowers costs, consistent with the club’s wider efforts to promote environmental sustainability.”

As a 13 time English Premier League (EPL) champion, the Red Devils seeks to render community-led innovation as the world gears to a new digital revolution. Therefore, Tezos emerged as its “blockchain of choice.”

Edward Adlard, the head of adoption and business development at Tezos, noted:

“Tezos will enable Manchester United to use blockchain and Web3 to transform fan, player, team, and partner engagement.”

Tezos will fund Manchester United Foundation’s objective of inspiring, educating, and training youths within the local community using its cryptocurrency XTZ or Tez. Furthermore, the strategic partnership will also render new fan experiences developed on the Tezos blockchain. 

With the non-fungible token (NFT) sector booming, Tezos has been one of the proof-of-stake networks empowering this sector. For instance, innovative protocols such as  AmplifyX, an NFT music marketplace, are based on the Tezos blockchain. 

PoS blockchains are favoured in the modern era because they are deemed more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than the proof-of-work (PoW) networks used by digital assets like Bitcoin (BTC).

Image source: Shutterstock

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Man United onboards Tezos as its official Web3 and training kit partner

Manchester United, one of the oldest soccer clubs globally, has confirmed the partnership with blockchain firm Tezos as the official training kit and technology partner.

The soccer club aims to introduce its fans to the decentralized Web3 tech amid growing focus from mainstream firms and brands. The team would make its first appearance in the new kit on Saturday against Southampton

Man United’s previous sponsorship deal with AON expired last month, and Tezos will be paying 33% on top of the previous agreement at $27 million yearly. Tezos will help the soccer club gain more exposure to Web3 technologies and might play a key role in launching various digital fan merchandise and collectibles soon.

A majority of global sports brands are experimenting with blockchain and Web3 centered tech and new ways for connecting sports clubs to fans. Man United aims to build a fan ecosystem expected to be based on the concept of metaverse on Tezos blockchain, to offer personalized experiences to the fans and the platform would use the native token of the Tezos.

Related: Tezos transactions and smart contract activity surge on NFT demand

Victoria Timpson, Manchester United’s CEO of Alliances and Partnerships, said:

“This is a hugely exciting partnership for Manchester United because it aligns us with one of the most advanced, reliable and sustainable blockchains in an area of technology which promises to truly revolutionise the way that everyone, including the Club and our fans, can interact.”

Tezos, a proof of stake (PoS) blockchain, has joined the growing list of blockchain firms entering mainstream sponsorship deals. Earlier, Tezos has signed sponsorship deals with Formula 1’s McLaren Racing and Major League Baseball’s New York Mets.