Over 5,800 Metaverse Trademark Applications Filed Last Year = Surging 200% Year-Over-Year
In 2022, there was a significant surge in trademark applications related to the Metaverse and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), indicating the growing importance and potential profitability of these emerging industries.
According to data collected by Blockchain Centre, there were 5,850 new Metaverse trademark applications and 7,746 NFT trademark applications registered last year.
This represents a growth rate of 205.64% and 259.61%, respectively, from the previous year. The monthly trends for trademark registrations steadily increased throughout the year, with at least 300 new applications filed every month.
Increasing interest in the Metaverse
Many big companies, including Meta, Formula One, Mastercard, McDonald’s, Gatorade, and the US Space Force, have also filed applications with the USPTO in 2022, indicating their interest in virtual products and involvement with crypto and blockchain.
The rise in trademark applications related to the Metaverse and NFTs has prompted an investigation by the US Patent and Trademark Office and US Copyright Office to examine how NFTs impact intellectual property rights.
According to the research:
“Recently, several prominent brands have faced challenges when their intellectual property or products were infringed upon by NFT marketplaces or platforms.”
Despite the ongoing ‘crypto winter’, the rise in trademark applications and growing interest in metaverse products have served as a counterbalance to concerns that the market is being negatively impacted. For the Silo, Lina Alisauskaite.
There’s the mailman, mail woman and the doorman, door woman, the pet sitter and personal trainer, not to forget the housekeeper, home healthcare worker and many others. So just who do you tip this holiday season and how much?
Sharon Schweitzer, an international etiquette expert, author, and the founder of Protocol & Etiquette Worldwide, offers this simple tipping checklist of which service providers you need to tip this holiday season and how much:
Business (check corporate policy):
Clients: Business gift baskets of chocolate, edible fruit, nuts, cheese, wine, cookies, petite fours; golf balls & non-logo gifts.
CEO/Boss: Group gift to their favorite charity or non-profit foundation
Assistant: Bonus or gift based on relationship length
Colleagues: gift they will like for sports, hobby, or dining, gift card.
Office Gift Exchange: don’t go rogue, follow the spending guidelines.
Education & Schools (follow policy):
Professor: greeting card, no gift
Teacher: Consider a group gift with parents pooled funds
Assistant /Aide: $25 – $50 gift certificate
Multiple Teachers: small gift, candle, baked goods, gift certificate.
Principle: Holiday card & baked goods
School Secretary: café gift card, small gift or gift certificate
School Nurse: café gift card, small gift or gift certificate
Home or Building Personnel:
Live-in help (cook or butler): between a week-month’s pay, plus a gift
Housekeeper: if they come once a week: equivalent of a day’s pay, or $50. If they come daily: equivalent of a week’s pay, and possibly a gift
Gardener: equivalent of a week’s service
Landscaping crew: equivalent of a week’s service, divided among the crew
Pool cleaning crew: equivalent of one session, divided among the crew.
Garage attendant: between $15 and $40 or give a small gift
Garbage/recycling: if city permits, $10-$30 each for extra holiday effort
Doorman: between $50 – $100 each, or gift, depending on extra duties
Elevator Operator and Handyman: between $20 – $50 each
Newspaper delivery: between $10 – $35, or give a small gift
Healthcare providers:
Private health care nurse: week’s pay or a gift of similar value
Home health employee: follow policy / generous gift basket of holiday treats
Nursing home staff: follow policy / gift basket of holiday treats for all
Personal grooming:
Hairstylist, manicure, pedicure, specialist: equivalent of a visit
Barber: haircut & shave equivalent or give a gift
Massage therapist/personal trainer: session equivalent or give a gift
Pet care:
Groomer: equivalent of one session or give a gift
Walker: week’s pay equivalent or “1-2 visits” per com
Sitter: a week’s pay and a paw print note from your pet
Package & Mail Delivery:
The United States Postal Service provides the public with a tipping and gift receiving policy on their website, FedEx and UPS do not. The information provided for FedEx and UPS is from customer service representatives who preferred not to give their names.
United States/Canada Postal Service:
Employees may accept baked goods (homemade/store bought) items to share with the branch office. Customers may give edible arrangements, gift cards for merchandise or services valued up to $20 per interaction. Gifts cannot exceed $50 per calendar year.
Company policies discourage gift cash or gift cards. The driver will politely decline the holiday gratuity. If the customer is insistent, the driver may ultimately accept the gift.
UPS
UPS does not have a limit; tipping is left to customer’s discretion.
Avoid giving holiday tips to people on this list; send holiday e-cards instead:
Canada’s online gaming sector is snowballing, boasting sales up to $31 billion per year, thanks primarily to players staking through their mobile devices. Yes, you can now enjoy your favorite casino games from your home desktop or laptop; and when on the move, on your smartphone or tablet.
But as with physical live Casino Canada, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with existing platforms, accepted payment methods, your game options, and whatnot before signing up.
Here’s your 4-minute guide to online gaming in Canada.
In this article;
Popular Games in Online Casino Canada
7 Things to look for in an online casino
Your deposit & withdrawal options
10 Best Online Casinos in Canada
Popular Games in Online Casino Canada
Maybe you love table games and worry that your favorite game isn’t available online. But this shouldn’t be a problem, most service providers offer myriad games to improve the online casino experience for avid gamblers.
Online Poker. This is arguably Canada’s most cherished online game. Under Poker, Players can toggle between options like Triple Play, Deuces Wild, and so on.
Growing Jackpots. In these games, the jackpot lump sum increases in value each second and may shoot to millions of dollars.
Slots. Slots come with impressive rewards like bonus rounds, free spins, etc which you can enjoy for free or deposit funds and earn.
Blackjack. Online gaming spots also feature the old-school Blackjack for free or for gamble.
Roulette. Canadians can switch between different Roulette versions. Learn what your website offers and master your moves before depositing.
Live dealer. This is the game for those who prefer the classic casino atmosphere even when paying from home.
Sports betting. Bet on a variety of sports.
These are some of the most popular gambling options in Canada, but there’s more to explore if you prefer something else.
7 Things to look for in an online casino
So you’d love to sign up with a website and begin enjoying your bonuses? That’s fine, but first, spend quality time comparing your options before diving in.
Below are the seven crucial factors to consider;
Signup Bonuses. With most websites promising a bonus, you will want to register with a casino that offers the best welcome rewards.
Deposit & Withdrawal. The listed deposit and withdrawals method(s) should match your preferences. Also, check how long it takes to withdraw your earnings.
Game Options. If you value variety, be sure to go through a list of games on offer before registration.
Unswerving Support. Because your playing remotely, it’s crucial to partner with a service that offers unswerving support through digital avenues like live chat, calls, or social media support.
Quick Upgrades or Promotions. You also want a platform that will promote you to better levels that include massive bonuses, and competitions.
Huge Jackpots. Most gamers prioritize jackpots and growing jackpots. If you’re eyeing the big price, be sure to compare these up-fronts.
Transaction & Payment Data Security. Before putting your money where your mouth is, be sure to double-check the website’s security protocol.
Online Casinos in Canada: Your Deposit & Withdrawal Options
Casinos in Canada allow players to deposit through various payment methods–the same applies for payouts (or withdrawals). The most transaction is instant or happens in a matter of minutes via secure platforms to protect your confidential payment data.
Still, you must consider the money-in and money-out options for your specific platform to ensure that the arrangement favors your money reservoirs.
Below are some of the safest common pay-in and payout options in Canadian online casinos.
Credit & debit cards
Neteller
PayPal
Visa
Mastercard
InstaDebit
paysafecard
American Express
Interac Online
Bank transfer
ecoCard and ecoPayz
10 Best Online Casinos in Canada
We sampled some of the best platforms to get started with online betting and gaming. Here are the 10 best gaming sites for Canadians.
Spin Casino
JackpotCity
Betway Casino
Ruby fortune
Casinocom
Europa Casino
CasiGO
Magic Red
National Casino
Bob Casino
Lastly, remember to compare the features that matter to you before signing up.
A Call to Action
Online betting and gaming are more fun than you imagine. But choosing the right platform is essential in enjoying a smooth experience. Compare these websites thoroughly and register with a preferred dealer to get started.
After many years of toying with the notion of moving into the cryptocurrency market, 2020 finally saw PayPal admit to its ongoing interest, and embrace Bitcoin (and others) within its existing online payment services
The news has, within the crypto circles, been long anticipated. Following a disastrous attempt at collaborating with tech giants like Facebook and Mastercard on the Libra Project a while back, it looked as though PayPal may have gone shy on the idea altogether. That, coupled with the fact that interest in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies among the ‘general digital public’ failed to take off in the way that was once predicted, made it seem as though a mainstream uptake of virtual currencies was nothing more than a pipe dream.
Of course, all that has now changed, and the company has finally enabled all users to buy, sell and store cryptocurrencies within its platform. But, will this bring the average internet user to crypto for once and for all, or will the alternative currency remain relatively niche online, in spite of efforts to make it more accessible? Read more below.
Online Payment Services Are Adapting to User Requirements Better than Ever Before
In its heyday, PayPal was the go-to online payment service for anyone looking to make their digital dealings safer, more convenient, and more efficient. Rather than storing their personal details with multiple sites and companies, users could provide them once and once only, and allow PayPal to handle the security side of things.
The only issue was that PayPal was famed for its high transaction fees – both for merchants, and customers.
Now, the realm of online payment services has evolved to ensure that companies have fine-tuned their process for a relevant service – and that, in the process, transaction fees are kept competitive. In the realm of the online entertainment industry, digital casinos now offer Idebit deposit options for Canadian players over 18, for instance; in the US, vastly popular apps like Cash App and Venmo enable instant peer-to-peer payments with minimal processing fees.
There are two consequences to this evolution within the online payment services industry. For one, digital payment services are growing more attuned to the needs, concerns and demands of their users than ever before. They have to, if they are going to compete with the years in which PayPal has stood as the paradigm for payment security. This means that, for the average internet user, crypto will remain largely obsolete; they can feel safe in the payments they make online, and do not need to explore other avenues.
Secondly, it means that PayPal is facing significant competition on all sides, and that more and more users run the risk of abandoning the service altogether in favour of something cheaper, more convenient and easier to use.
Does the Average User Even Need Crypto?
PayPal is infamous for keeping the details of its new projects close to its chest, which means that we cannot be sure exactly what their motivations behind embracing crypto really are. Some already believe that it is ensuring a revolutionary stimulus for Bitcoin. It may simply be another move intended to ensure that they keep up with digital trends, rather than a fully-fledged commitment to the future of online payments. In reality, many using the internet today have no need of crypto. Sure, it is safer and more private – something we all need to prioritize – but so are the services currently working to unseat PayPal at what it does best: simplicity.
Bitcoin is not simple – in fact, it is far from it. PayPal’s move toward the realm of virtual currencies does not make the technology itself any simple or more accessible to those who hold only limited knowledge about it, and only by targeting these user groups does it look likely that they will begin to embrace this alternative currency. For the Silo, Mildred Austria.
