Metaverse 3D Replicas Spark Open Questions Over IP Protections

When intellectual property attorney Tracy-Gene Durkin started receiving requests from clients to help them get 3D models of their products taken down from a Shutterstock Inc. subsidiary, she recognized a trend spurred by the advent of the metaverse.

The Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox PLLC director noticed an uptick in clients concerned about virtual versions of their goods available for download from TurboSquid, a site that hosts models typically used for 3D printing. These renderings can depict a range of items, from cars and food to furniture and gadgetry.

With virtual reality gaming and other metaverse applications going mainstream, digital ...