Uh oh! Sony patents NFT trading framework for gaming platforms

Searching publicly available patents is an odd pastime, but it’s one that keen industry watchers seem to enjoy. Last we heard that Sony patented a system that improves people’s posture while gaming, and now we’re on to another one – only this one can leave a sour taste.

As you can see hereSony has filed a patent for an NFT framework that allows the exchange of non-fungible tokens across gaming systems.

To recap, NFTs are digital goods stored on a blockchain that prove ownership with a unique identification receipt, theoretically allowing you to own intangibles in the same way as physical products. Although this technology has been widely criticized, some large companies have explored NFTs as a potential new revenue stream, although most attempts have failed at this point. Anyone remember Ubisoft Quartz?

This Sony patented system would essentially allow you to transfer your NFTs from one game or system to another and continue using them there. Additionally, there is an opportunity to trade or sell the rights to your NFTs to other players, and apparently counterfeiting is “nearly impossible due to the use of blockchain technology.”

It has to be noted that many patents like this one are never developed into a final product or service, so we wouldn’t sound the alarm just yet. Chances are most companies cover their bases in a similar way, and besides, Sony will be fully aware of the terrible reputation NFTs have. We remember that PlayStation had to make a point of saying it PS stars digital collectibles are not NFTs. We’ll definitely see what happens!