Big Moves in the Virtual Space

McDonald’s, the fast-food giant known for its golden arches and Big Macs, is gearing up to dive into the metaverse by filing ten trademarks that signal its intent to establish a presence in this digital frontier. According to trademark attorney Josh Gerben, who spilled the beans on Twitter, the applications reveal plans for a “virtual restaurant featuring actual and virtual goods” and the oh-so-20s concept of “operating a virtual restaurant featuring home delivery.” Yes, you read that right—your fries might just come with a side of avatars!

Downloadable Delights

The trademark filings also include exciting offerings like “downloadable multimedia files,” which means that when you’re craving a Cheeseburger in the metaverse, you might just get the chance to own a digital collectible featuring it—or as they call them, NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). It’s like having a virtual Happy Meal, but instead of a toy, you get a blockchain certificate. Perfect for that friend who insists on everything being trendy and exclusive.

Bringing McCafe to the Metaverse

As if that weren’t enough, the McCafe brand is also entering the virtual realm. How about enjoying a latte while tuning into live-streamed concerts from the comfort of your virtual couch? This could be the new hot spot for virtual events—because who wouldn’t want to sip coffee with a side of Miley Cyrus or whoever is trending at the time? Expect virtual pastries and coffee to be the next big trend in this digital cafe.

Facing Off with Competitors

Of course, McDonald’s won’t be alone in this endeavor. It will be sharing the virtual concert stage with other big hitters such as Animal Concerts, which promises fans a chance to catch their favorite music acts without the limitations of pesky geographical constraints. Forget about overpriced tickets and trotting across town; now you can attend a concert in your pajamas.

The Fast-Track to Trademark Approval

With all this metaverse excitement, you might be wondering how long it will take for these trademarks to go through. On average, applications take around nine and a half months to be reviewed by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. However, Gerben confidently expects that both McDonald’s and Panera Bread (yes, those bread bowls are also aiming for a metaverse presence) will breeze through the approval process. As he aptly stated, “I don’t think anyone wants to be the next Blockbuster…” because ignoring tech trends is so last century.