Augmented reality (AR) is the perception of the real environment enriched with digital content. For this, special glasses can be used to save additional elements over real objects and thus be integrated into the filmed or photographed environment (e.g. Pokémon Go or Snapchat).
 

The area of conflict between AR and IP is particularly evident in trade mark and copyright protection. On the one hand, new technology offers opportunities to access the environment in a completely new way. On the other, however, it must be clarified who owns the rights to the image and film material that form the basis for AR – the person photographing or filming, or the software producer? It is also unclear whether and from when the use of trade marks or copyrighted creations in virtual space can be punished as an offence.

Sources/further reading:

• WIPO Magazine (2017): Pokémon GO, Augmented Reality tests IP
• IP-Watch (2017): Real IP Issues Surface In A Virtual World