OPENVERSE 3rd Expert Workshop: IPR Challenges and Barriers to the Single Digital Market for SMEs and Start-ups Active in the Virtual Worlds and Web4.0 Arena

This workshop will focus on the challenges and barriers faced by SMEs and start-ups in the virtual worlds and Web4.0 sectors, particularly in accessing and benefiting from the Single Digital Market (SDM). Despite the implementation of the Digital Market Act (DMA) and Digital Service Act (DSA) in mid-2023, and the support measures by the European Commission, significant hurdles remain for smaller players.

Key points to be addressed include:

• Identifying existing support mechanisms for SMEs and start-ups and how these can be leveraged to overcome hurdles in the virtual world and Web4.0 ecosystems.
• Examining how virtual worlds, involving a diverse range of innovators and motivated social actors, can become key development platforms and growth areas for small businesses, with a focus on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues.
• Exploring the growing role of AI in shaping interactions, creation, and operations in these environments, and how SMEs and start-ups can harness AI to thrive in this rapidly evolving sector.