In a tweet earlier today, metaverse trademark attorney Michael Kondoudis revealed that CVS Pharmacy, Inc. has filed four new trademark applications for CVS, CVS PHARMACY, CVS HEALTH , and its iconic heart logo.  The applications, filed on February 28, 2022, signal plans by the retailer to offer:

• Downloadable virtual goods, namely, a variety of consumer goods, prescription drugs, health, wellness, beauty and personal care products and general merchandise for use online and in online virtual worlds;

• Downloadable virtual goods created with blockchain-based software technology and smart contracts, in the nature of a variety of consumer goods, prescription drugs, health, wellness, beauty and personal care products and general merchandise;

• Downloadable virtual goods, namely, crypto-collectibles and non-fungible tokens (NFTs);

• Online retail services featuring virtual goods, namely, featuring a variety of consumer goods, prescription drugs, health, wellness, beauty and personal care products and general merchandise for use online and in online virtual worlds for use online;

• Digital assets and digital collectibles sold as non-fungible tokens (NFTs);

• Providing an online virtual store for the sale of a wide variety of non-virtual consumer goods;

• Providing online non-downloadable virtual goods for use in virtual environments, including a variety of consumer goods, prescription drugs, health, wellness, beauty and personal care products and general merchandise for use online and in online virtual worlds;

• Providing an online non-downloadable platform for users to browse, create, modify and manipulate virtual retail consumer goods;

• Crypto-collectibles and application tokens; and

•Healthcare services provided in virtual reality and augmented reality environments, namely, non-emergency medical treatment services, wellness programs, advisory services relating to nutrition, providing healthy lifestyle and nutrition services, namely, personal assessments, personalized routines, maintenance schedules, and counseling and counseling services in the fields of health, nutrition and lifestyle wellness.

"CVS clearly sees the potential of the Metaverse and is preparing its trademarks the coming economy of virtual goods and services," Mr. Kondoudis says.

Mr. Kondoudis adds that these trademark filings "follow the trend by other retailers like Walmart to begin preparations to participate in the Metaverse."

"Perhaps most interesting about the applications is that they indicate an intention to operate online virtual stores 'for the sale of a wide variety of non-virtual consumer goods,' which is probably one of the more immediate ways for a retailer to monetize the Metaverse," Mr. Kondoudis opined.

"We expect most major retail brands to continue this trend and to file similar trademark applications in the next 12 months," Mr. Kondoudis concluded.