WO2023192380A1

WO2023192380A1 - Systems and methods for creating an authenticated nft physical twin and, generating an original nft claim from a physical object

Info

Publication number: WO2023192380A1
Application number: PCT/US2023/016728
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Saavedra; Roxana FATA; Jorge PROAÑO; Marc ABI-SAMRA; Kensuke SEMBO
Original assignee: Infinite Objects, Inc.
Priority date: 2022-03-29
Filing date: 2023-03-29
Publication date: 2023-10-05

Abstract

A method for creating a tangible collectible of authenticated NFT (non-fungible token) representing an asset. The method comprises searching for a token of NFT, obtaining the token if the token if found in the search, authenticating the obtained NFT token, determining a printability status of the token if the token has been authenticated, and printing a physical twin which is a tangible version of the NFT asset if it is determined that a printing is permitted.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CREATING AN AUTHENTICATED NFT PHYSICAL TWIN AND, GENERATING AN ORIGINAL NFT CLAIM FROM A

PHYSICAL OBJECT

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[001] The present invention claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/324,920, filed March 29, 2022, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[002] The present disclosure presents systems and methods that relate to creating authenticated physical twins or physical accompaniments to non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in the blockchain domain and using a physical object, such as a video file or image file, as a basis for generating a new NFT in the blockchain domain. The latter can be used to establish a physical- first NFT marketplace in which all transactions are associated with an authenticated NFT Physical Twin. The present disclosure also concerns related techniques including hardware encryption on a display product and tokenizing media files during the process of transferring the media to a physical object (printing).

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[003] NFTs consist of digital data that can be associated with a particular digital or physical asset, including but not limited to, two and three-dimensional images, videos, audio content, together with a license to use the asset for a specified purpose. NFTs can have one official owner at a time and the ownership is secured by a blockchain distributed ledger so that the record of ownership is immutable. The advantage of NFTs is that they leverage the new technologies of blockchain and smart contracts. NFTs are created, under the terms of a smart contract, when blockchains concatenate records containing cryptographic characters (hashes) that identify a set of data onto previous records. The concatenation creates a chain of identifiable data blocks and the cryptographic hashing process provides a digital signature that tracks NFT ownership.

[004] Ownership of an NFT is typically associated with a license to use a linked digital asset and smart contract agreements often grant a license for personal, non-commercial use of the linked asset. However, the underlying asset itself generally contains no link to the owner of the NFT. This leads the owner of the NFT to be reluctant to convert the NFT into tangible form.

[005] There remains a need to provide a way for NFT owners to gain greater benefit from their NFT assets.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[006] The present disclosure describes a method for creating a tangible collectible of authenticated NFT (non-fungible token) representing an asset. The method comprises searching for a token of NFT, obtaining the token if the token if found in the search, authenticating the obtained NFT token, determining a printability status of the token if the token has been authenticated, and printing a physical twin which is a tangible version of the NFT asset if it is determined that a printing is permitted.

[007] In some embodiments, the method further includes modifying the physical twin permanently to include a mark that references the NFT asset on a blockchain. The mark can encode an owner of the NFT, a date and time when the NFT was authorized and purchased, and data referencing a precise token that the physical win represents. The mark can further include a unique serial number of the physical twin it is imprinted upon.

[008] The method can further comprise obtaining information concerning the asset associated with the token including original asset data, and original asset owner and an asset type prior to obtaining the NFT token.

[009] A smart contract corresponding to the NFT token can be accessed to determine whether printing of the NFT is permitted to be printed. In certain implementations the determination proceeds by assessing whether the smart contract is a member of a list of smart contracts for which NFT printing has been disallowed. If it is determined that the smart contract is not on a list that indicates printing is disallowed, it is further determined whether i) the smart contract is a member of a list of smart contracts for which NFT has been allowed, or ii) an author of the content has signed the content and given permission for printing of the NFT.

[0010] According to another aspect, the present discloses provides a method of claiming a digital token of an NFT on a blockchain domain. The method comprises obtaining a physical item having printed authentication information corresponding to the NFT, accessing the blockchain domain, and entering a request to claim the digital token using the authentication information. [0011] These and other aspects, features, and advantages can be appreciated from the following description of certain embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawing figures and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an NFT ecosystem through which the inventive methods disclosed herein can be practiced.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method for creating an authenticated NFT tangible collectible acaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process for determining the printability status according to the present disclosure using filters.

[0015] FIGS. 4A-4E show example user interface screens of a platform for creating an authenticated NFT physical twin via a Web3 application according to the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 5 depicts an example marketplace interface that presents the user an option to purchase an NFT with the physical twin in a bundle through an auction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DEFINITIONS

[0017] Non-Fungible Token (NFT): NFTs consist of digital data that can be associated with a particular digital or physical asset including but not limited to two and three-dimensional images, videos, audio content, together with a license to use the asset for a specified purpose. NFTs can have one official owner at a time and the ownership is secured by a blockchain distributed ledger so that the record of ownership is immutable. While NFTs can be traded and sold on digital markets they are not mutually interchangeable because of their unique properties and are therefore considered to be non-fungible.

[0018] Smart Contract: Smart contracts are programs that are stored on a blockchain that execute when predetermined conditions are met. Smart contracts are typically used to automate the execution of an agreement so that all participants can be immediately certain of the outcome, without any involvement of an intermediary. Smart contracts can automate a workflow, triggering actions when prescribed conditions are met. With regard to NFTs, a smart contract enables a blockchain network to store the information that is indicated in an NFT transaction and to ensure that the information stored is transparent as well as immutable.

[0019] Distributable ledger: A distributed ledger is a database that is consensually shared and synchronized across multiple sites, institutions, or geographies, accessible by multiple people. It allows transactions to have public "witnesses." The participant at each node of the network can access the recordings shared across that network and can own an identical copy of it. Any changes or additions made to the ledger are reflected and copied to all participants in a matter of seconds or minutes.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0020] The present disclosure provides embodiments of a method for creating an authenticated physical twin of an NFT. In this method, the user, an owner of an asset, such as an NFT in the blockchain domain, initially authenticates their ownership of the digital asset. The asset may be associated with a blockchain “wallet” that stores the assets of the owner in the blockchain domain. The authentication can be performed using any blockchain and/or Web3 authentication method. These methods enable the user to connect their blockchain wallet to a Web3 service that can determine the public ownership of the assets contained therein.

[0021] In addition, since IP owners can restrict printability through blockchain interaction, the method provides a series of filters to determine “printability or physical claim status”. The filters can be implemented to filter for filetype or to attribute and compensate IP owners of NFT content that is being merchandized as a physical collectible to NFT holders.

[0022] Once the user has been confirmed as the owner of the wallet and printability has also been confirmed, the user can select one of the NFT assets and order a “physical twin” of the selected NFT. The physical twin can be embodied as a tangible product in any number of ways including, but not limited to, a printed card, postcard, photograph or poster, a sculpture, relief, or lenticular, a piece of uniquely designed apparel, jewelry, or clothing, or a “mask enhanced video print.”

[0023] Importantly, the printed NFT is modified permanently to include a direct reference to a digital asset on a blockchain. The modification comprises a permanent mark, which can be visible or invisible, that encodes the owner of the NFT who authenticated the purchase, the date/time when it was authorized and purchased, and blockchain data referencing the token identifier, contract address, or other blockchain-specific information that encodes the precise token that the physical twin represents. The mark also contains data referencing the unique “print edition” or “serial number” of the physical twin it is imprinted upon or otherwise added to. For example, if a single NFT is authenticated and printed more than once, each physical twin is authentically labeled “Print #1”, “Print #2”, etc. (as such, the term “twin” is not limiting and does not imply only two items exist since there can be triplets, etc.). [0024] The mark can be implemented as a QR code, bar code, URL, or identification number that is imprinted on the object. Alternatively, to avoid the visible appearance of the mark on the object, the mark can be implemented as an invisible watermark, or by an RFID or NFC tag that can be coupled to the physical twin. In this manner, the physical twin is uniquely identified as an authentic and legitimate physical embodiment of the digital NFT.

[0025] When a device displays an NFT physical twin via a video print, additional data can be permanently loaded onto memory storage components of the device.

[0026] This additional data can include, but is not limited to, source files, blockchain data, additional media, or otherwise “unlockable content” accessible only by the owner of the device. The additional data can be accessed through a USB or other data port of the device and may be encrypted on the hardware itself and only un-encrypted by the user who owns the device and data. Ownership of the video files and data can be proven using private and public key combinations verified via a blockchain Web3 application. Connecting the device to a computer or reading by a mobile device application and running a custom software application allows the user to authenticate using their blockchain credentials and enables them to read the data stored in the device.

[0027] The present disclosure also provides a method for creating an NFT claim using a media object. NFTs are traditionally claimed through a minting contract where a user authenticates their wallet on a blockchain and the executes a minting transaction on the blockchain through a web interface. In the present method, a user who owns a physical object having inscribed identification information, uses the inscribed data on the object to claim a digital token on the blockchain. Simply by attending an event, purchasing on-site or online, and holding the object, which may be a printed paper, poster, sculpture, figurine, authenticated video print, NFT physical twin, or any other physical item with data inscribed permanently onto it, the user can claim the unique token that it represents through an internet-accessible application.

[0028] For example, a user may receive an item, such as an Authenticated NFT Physical Twin described above, that includes a unique QR code, NFC or RFID tag. The QR code, NFC or RFID tag can represent a unique URL that leads to a website through which an NFT can be claimed.

[0029] To capture some of the advantages of the methods above, a physical-first NFT marketplace (PF/NFT marketplace) is also provided. The PF/NFT marketplace can be implemented using an internet-hosted web application in which every transaction involving transfer of ownership, such as a sale, auction, token transfer or claiming of a token is always associated with an authenticated NFT physical twin. While current NFT marketplaces allow IP Owners (artists, creators, celebrities, leagues, teams, sports players, and collectors) to sell and auction content in the form of digital NFTs, the PF/NFT marketplace provides the same functionality in with the addition of a physical twin included in every transaction. The NFTs can be image, video, audio, 3D files, or any other media type. The authenticated physical Twin is always tied to the purchase and sale of the NFT and shipped physically to the purchaser.

[0030] The PF/NFT marketplace governs and records both primary sales coming directly from IP owners or creator, as well as secondary sales, transacted between collectors (i.e., current owner to new owner). The PF/NFT marketplace enables for sale and purchase of Authenticated NFT Physical Twins” without the NFT itself. In this scenario, an owner of Physical Twin can list for sale their Physical Twin alone. For example, a collector may own “Print #1” of a specific NFT and while not owning the NFT itself on-chain. The PF/NFT marketplace allows for the collector to sell or auction this Physical Twin, in connection with an authentication method using the inscribed mark (QR Code, Bar Code, RFID tag) for proving the veracity of the object. [0031] In another related method, media objects can be tokenized during the printing process. In this method, a user uploads a user-generated media object (image, video, audio, or other media) to a website for personal printing purposes. The printing may occur as a “mask enhanced video print”, or as a photograph, poster, coffee mug, apparel, or other physical object. In some implementation, a single-action user interface (e.g., a button selection) allows the user to include a tokenized NFT version of their upload submission, claimable immediately or asynchronously on a blockchain Web3 application. This process can be performed as part of the user-generated content “printing process” or separated. An example of this printing process can be found at infiniteobjects.com/products/video-print.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an NFT ecosystem 100 which aspects of the present disclosure can be practiced. The NFT ecosystem 100 utilizes a public or private blockchain 110 (e.g., Bitcoin or Ethereum) which is a peer-to-peer network of computing devices referred to as “nodes” that implement a protocol for maintaining a distributed ledger and for communicating and validating new blocks. It is noted that the NFT ecosystem 100 is a simplified representation and can include other components than those described above without departing from the scope of the inventive aspects disclosed herein.

[0033] The NFT ecosystem 100 further includes a registry server 120 that performs a number of administrative functions in the NFT ecosystem including providing for registration of NFTs. A plurality of content creators, e.g., 130, 135 are coupled to the registry server 120 and to the blockchain 110. NFTs can be minted when content creators 130, 135 are granted access to a minting service or NFT registry service that is provided by the NFT registry server 120. The NFTs are minted in accordance with the terms of a smart contract that governs the interaction between the minting service at the NFT registry server 120 and the content creators 130, 135. The registry server 120 can authenticate the content creators 130, 135 by confirming that the content creators hold the necessary intellectual property rights to mint an NFT with respect to an item of content. Examples of content creators 130, 135 can include, but are not limited to, artists, record labels, movie studios, retail brands, sports franchises, and gaming platforms. Once authenticated, the content creators 130,135 cryptographically sign NFTs and access an account in which payments and/or other compensation are directed according to the smart contracts underlying the newly-minted NFTs. In some implementations, the NFT registry server 120 also cryptographically signed the newly-minted NFTs.

[0034] The registry server 120 communicates with the NFT blockchain 110 via the Internet (or possibly another network). The NFTs are implemented as smart contracts within the NFT blockchain 110, which stores the NFTs. An NFT exchange 140 coupled to the NFT blockchain 110 provides a platform through which NFTs can be viewed for trading and exchanging. The NFT exchange 140 can also be administered using the NFT registry server 120. The NFT exchange enables users to purchase and/or sell NFTs in a distributed fashion while honoring all rules governed by the smart contract underlying the NFTs. For example, this allows payments and other rights to follow the owner of the NFT as it is exchanged on or more times through the NFT exchange 140. The NFT exchange stores additional transaction information into the NFT blockchain 110 that enables the authenticity of the NFT as well as its ownership to be validated in subsequent transactions. In some implementations, NFTs can be minted and recorded in accordance with the cNFT standard (ERC998) so that token ownership can be chained to the NFTs. The NFT exchange can thereby provide a physical twin/NFT marketplace. It will also be appreciated that the NFT exchange 140 can itself by the PF/NFT marketplace described previously.

[0035] Persons interested in purchasing, viewing and otherwise accessing NFTs can utilize user devices e.g., 150 configured with appropriate applications such as (but not limited to) wallet applications to obtain NFTs. The wallet application enables users to securely store, buy, sell and trade NFTs and other crypto assets. The wallet application also stores records of user transactions with the NFT exchange 140 and the NFT blockchain more generally. The user devices can be any electronic device, including but not limited to a smart phone, tablet, laptop or smart TV having the requisite computing resources (i.e., in terms of processing power, storage, configurability, etc.). [0036] As noted above, an NFT owner may wish to print a physical twin of an NFT that they own, which provides a fully authenticated physical version of the NFT to the owner. FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method for creating an authenticated NFT tangible collectible according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In a first step 202, a user who wishes to print a physical version (twin) of an NFT asset logs in to a blockchain wallet application. As noted, the blockchain wallet application enables users to securely store, buy, sell and trade NFTs and other crypto assets. In a following step 204, the user, using the blockchain wallet application, executes a query via a blockchain or Web3 service, such as Etherscan or Solara, for locating the asset in the blockchain domain. The query is conducted over the nodes of the NFT blockchain 110. In step 206, the blockchain wallet application arrives at a determination, from information received from the NFT blockchain, whether or not the asset can be located (i.e., whether the asset exists in the NFT blockchain). If it is determined that the asset cannot be located, the method ends in step 208. If the asset has been located, in step 210, a process of transaction steps proceeds for obtaining an asset token of the NFT. In the embodiment of the method depicted, several items of metadata are obtained concerning the asset from the Web3 service including original asset information 214 and the original asset owner. The asset information 214 is parsed 216 to obtain an asset type 218. The asset type 218 can be a wide range of computer file types including various text, image and video files, 3D-print files and other file types (applications, data). Preferably, for the purpose of printing, the asset is a tangible object that can be represented physically via a printing process. Once the process 210 is completed, an NFT asset token 220 is obtained in step 220 and is transferred to the user’s blockchain wallet.

[0037] After receiving the asset token in step 220, in the following step 225, the asset token is verified using blockchain methods. The verification process enables the user to authenticate ownership of the NFT. There are a number of ways known in the art to verify the authenticity of an NFT. Some NFTs have their own certificate of authenticity. Information on these certificates may include the token ID, the NFT status and serial number, the manufacturer and owner ID, the creator’s digital signature, and the programming information. For NFTs that do not have a digital certificate, ownership metadata can be obtained from the token ID and smart contract address by connecting the blockchain wallet to a Web3 service which is able to read and compare the metadata of the assets contained within the wallet. If the verification process is not successful in step 225, the process ends in step 228. Otherwise, if the verification process is successful, in step 235, the printability of the asset is set, which allows the user to print the unique, authenticated NFT in a tangible form. After verification of printability or claimability has been determined, the system may interact with an e-commerce platform such as Shopify to allow for the purchase, claim, and fulfillment of the physical twin. Information related to the successful claiming or printing of the physical twin may be stored in a separate off-chain database (“Allow List”), or on-chain record (“Registry Contract”). In the case of “video prints” or other custom created physical, data is also pulled from the verification process and used in the fulfillment process of the physical twin. This data may include audio or visual media, token metadata, owner metadata, temporal (date/time), or location metadata. Third parties such as retailer or other point of sale information may be recorded at the time of claiming/fulfillment in any of the above databases. In some implementations, the printing or claiming of an NFT may limit subsequent claims or prints of the same token, depending on the verification ruleset decided by the IP owner, therefore recording of said fulfillment can be critical to the systems. [0038] FIG.3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process for determining the printability status according to the present disclosure using a number of filters. The process is implemented to attribute and compensate IP owner of NFT content that is being merchandized as a physical collectible to NFT holders. IP owners have the option to disallow printability through blockchain or another database interaction. In a first step 302, it is determined whether the original file of the asset exists. If it is determined that the original file does not exist, it is determined that it is not printable in step 330 and the process ends. If the original file is found, in a following step 304, the second filter is a determination as to whether the filetype of the original file is accepted (amenable to physical printing). If it is not, the method cycles to “nonprintability” status in step 330 and the method ends. If the filetype is accepted, the process moves to the next filter in step 306, in which it is determined whether the smart contract for the NFT is in a “disallow” list. If so, the process cycles to step 330 and the method ends. If the smart contract is not in a disallow list, the process moves to the next filter in step 308, in which it is determined the content creator is known. If the content creator is not known, the process branches to step 325 in which it is determined whether the asset is already in the blockchain wallet of the user. If the asset is not in the user’s blockchain wallet, the process cycles to step 330 and the method ends. If it is determined, in step 325, that the asset is in the user’s blockchain wallet, the process branches to step 335 in which it is determined that the asset is physically printable. If, on the other hand, it is determined in step 308 that the content creator is known, the process advances to step 310 in which it is determined with the content creator has signed the NFT. If, in step 310, it is determined that the content creator has not signed the NFT, the process branches to step 315 in which a further determination is made as to whether the smart contract is on a different “allow” list. If the smart contract is on the allow list, the process advances to step 325 for a determination as to whether the asset is already in the user’s blockchain wallet. If, in step 315, it is determined that the contract is not in the “allow” list the process branches to step 330 and the method ends.

[0039] Returning to step 310, if it is determined that the content creator has signed the NFT, it is afterward determined whether or not the author has given permission for the NFT to be physically printed in step 312. If the content creator has not given printing permission, the process branches to step 330 and the method ends. If the content creator has given printing permission in step 312, the process advances to step 314 where the system queries a database for single- or multi-claim allowance. If the token has never been printed, then they can claim. If it has, and this IP owner has allowed for multiple prints, the process will continue, otherwise the method ends. The process then continues to step 325 to ascertain whether the NFT is in the user’s blockchain wallet and then to step 335 for printing.

[0040] After the user is granted permission to print the NFT, the user can select and asset they hold in their blockchain wallet and order what is termed a “tangible collectible” or “physical twin” of their digital NFT (it will be termed a physical twin afterwards for brevity). The physical twin ordered can include, but is not limited to, a printed card, postcard, photograph, poster, sculpture, relief, lenticular or mask-enhanced video print (or more generally, any 2- dimensional image or 3 -dimensional structure).

[0041] Importantly, the physical twin contains a permanent unique mark or identifier that references the owner of the NFT, authorization data, and blockchain data that further references the token identifier, smart contract address and/or other blockchain-specific data. The mark can be implemented as a QR code, bar code or alphanumeric string. Alternatively, the mark can be implemented using a near- field communication (NFC) tag or other scannable wireless tag. The mark can also contain a serial number that uniquely identifies the physical twin. The serial number can be part of the QR code, bar code, etc. or can be added as a separate code. For example, if a single NFT is authenticated and printed more than once, each physical twin will have a different mark corresponding to the different serial numbers of the two physical twins. [0042] When the physical twin is authenticated and generated, all data related to these transactions is recorded in a database, such as the blockchain itself or a conventional datastore. The recorded data can include the entity that authenticated the purchase, the date/time of purchase and authorization, a physical edition number (serial number) in addition to NFT blockchain data.

[0043] FIGS. 4A-4E show example user interface screens of a platform for creating an authenticated NFT physical twin via a Web3 application according to the present disclosure. FIG. 4A shows a landing page 400 that is entitled “Print Your NFT.” The landing page 400 includes a “wallet” button 405 which, upon activation by the user, connects the user to a selection of block chain wallet platforms. FIG. 4B shows a second screen 410 which appears upon activation of the wallet button 405 in landing page 400. On the second screen 410 icons representing two third party blockchain wallet providers 412, 414 appear. Activating either of the icons 412, 414 initiates a connection to either of the blockchain wallet provider sites. Upon connection, the NFT printing platform is able to gather data from the blockchain wallet sites. FIG. 4C shows an NFT listing screen 420 which includes a number of images that represent NFTs, e.g., 422, 424, 426, that are present in the blockchain wallet to which a connection has been made. Activation of one of the representations in the NFT listing screen 420 selects the NFT for printing. FIG. 4D shows a print preview screen 430 in which a selected NFT 434 is shown embodied in an image frame device (which can be found at the infiniteobjects.com site). Metadata 436 that is to be used to mark the image is shown at the bottom of the preview screen 430. If the user elects to print the NFT, the user can active a checkout/purchase button 438, which causes a checkout/purchase screen 440 to appear, shown in FIG. 4E. Purchase of the NFT causes a unique physical twin of NFT to be printed with the metadata in the manner discussed above.

[0044] When the NFT is a video, a display device can be used such as described, for example, in co-assigned U.S. Patent No. 11,317,412 (‘412 patent) entitled “Sensor-Actuated Mask- Enhanced Digital Video Frame.” The display includes internal flash memory stored or can be coupled to a flash memory device, and also includes one or more data communication ports (e.g., USB ports). When a video print is provisioned with the video file at the time of production or fulfillment, additional data can be loaded or “flashed” to the memory store of the display device. This additional data can include, but is not limited to, source files, blockchain data, additional media or otherwise unlockable content accessible only to the owner of the display device. The additional data can be encrypted before being stored in memory using a key only known to the owner. This data can be accessed and decrypted, by the owner, though a USB or other data port of the display device.

[0045] Thus far, a process of generating a physical twin of an authenticated NFT has been described. However, the process can also flow in the opposite direction. In other words, the process can start with a user owning a physical item having authentication information corresponding to an NFT. The information inscribed on the physical twin can be used to claim the digital token of the NFT on the blockchain through a Web3 application. The physical item can be a printed paper, poster, sculpture, figuring, authenticated video print, NFT physical twin or any other object with inscribed data. The inscribed data can include a URL that leads to a site at which the digital token of the NFT can be claimed.

[0046] In addition, the physical twin can be added as a feature to NFT marketplace platform via, for example, an NFT exchange described above with reference to FIG. 1. For example, an internet-hosted application for an NFT marketplace can be operated in such manner that each transaction involving an NFT digital token, including but not limited to, sales, auctions, tokentransfers and claims is associated with an NFT physical twin (e.g., a transfer of the token will cause a generation of and transfer of the physical twin of the NFT associated with the token). The hosting marketplace can support both primary transactions involving the IP owner or creator as well as secondary transactions between collectors. FIG. 5 shows an example marketplace interface that presents the user an option to purchase an NFT with the physical twin in a bundle through an auction. As shown, the marketplace interface 500 presents a first image of the NFT physical twin 505 that is being auctioned. Below the first image of the NFT physical twin is an obverse side of the NFT physical twin that includes the unique mark 510 that references the owner of the NFT, authorization data, and blockchain data that further references the token identifier, smart contract address and/or other blockchain- specific data. The marketplace interface 500 also includes a bid history of the auction 515, a time remaining for bids 520 and a control to submit a new bid 525. All of these features facilitate a marketplace in NFTs and their unique physical representations.

[0047] The NFT platform also provides the option of enabling a user to tokenize media content during the printing of the NFT physical twin. In this process, the user uploads the media content to the platform site having printing capability. The platform site can print the media as a mask-enhanced video print as discussed in the ‘412 patent, or in any number of other ways including, but not limited to, a photograph, poster, a personal object such as a coffee mug. In some implementations, a single-action user control activates the tokenization process in which a tokenized NFT version of the uploaded media content is generated and is made claimable (immediately or afterwards) on a blockchain Web3 application.

[0048] It is to be understood that any structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting the systems and methods, but rather are provided as a representative embodiment and/or arrangement for teaching one skilled in the art various ways to implement the methods. It is to be further understood that like parts in the drawings represent like elements through the several figures, and that not all components and/or steps described and illustrated with reference to the figures are required for all embodiments or arrangements. [0049] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising", when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

[0050] Terms of orientation are used herein merely for purposes of convention and referencing and are not to be construed as limiting. However, it is recognized these terms could be used with reference to a viewer. Accordingly, no limitations are implied or to be inferred. [0051] Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having," "containing," "involving," and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.

[0052] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications will be appreciated by those skilled in the art to adapt a particular instrument, situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the various elements of the methods described herein will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the disclosure as understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for creating a tangible collectible of authenticated NFT (non-fungible token) representing an asset, the method comprising: searching for a token of NFT ; obtaining the token if the token if found in the search; authenticating the obtained NFT token; determining a printability status of the token if the token has been authenticated; and printing a physical twin which is a tangible version of the NFT asset if it is determined that a printing is permitted.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the physical twin permanently to include a mark that references the NFT asset on a blockchain.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the mark encodes an owner of the NFT a date and time when the NFT was authorized and purchased, and data referencing a precise token that the physical win represents.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mark includes a unique serial number of the physical twin it is imprinted upon.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising employing a blockchain wallet application to perform searching and obtaining the token.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: prior to obtaining the NFT token, obtaining information concerning the asset associated with the token including original asset data, and original asset owner and an asset type.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: accessing a smart contract corresponding to the NFT token; and determining, from the smart contract, whether printing of the NFT is permitted to be printed.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining whether printing of the NFT is permitted includes determining whether the smart contract is a member of a list of smart contracts for which NFT printing has been disallowed.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising: when it is determined that the smart contract is not on a list that indicates printing is disallowed, further determining whether i) the smart contract is a member of a list of smart contracts for which NFT has been allowed, or ii) an author of the content has signed the content and given permission for printing of the NFT.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the NFT physical twin is printed in the form of a 2- dimensional image or a 3-dimensional structure.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the physical twin is printed in the form of a printed card, postcard, or photograph.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the physical twin is printed in the form of a sculpture, relief, lenticular or mask-enhanced video print.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when the NFT asset is a video file, loading additional data to a memory store of a device that displays the video file, the additional data being accessible only to an owner the device that displays the video.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the additional data includes at least one of a source file, blockchain data.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising encrypting the additional data prior to storage in the device that displays the video file.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the device that displays the video file is a mask-enhanced display device.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating the physical twin with the NFT digital token.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising transferring a physical twin associated with the NFT token when the NFT token is transferred in a transaction.

19. A method of claiming a digital token of an NFT on a blockchain domain comprising: obtaining a physical item having printed authentication information corresponding to the NFT; access the blockchain domain; and entering a request to claim the digital token using the authentication information.