Thai Zoo Seeks Patent Protection for Viral Baby Hippo Moo Deng’s Image

Introduction

Viral content can rekindle worldwide attention, generate a good sum of money, and be established as a star icon in social media. Gaining popularity from social media, Moo Deng, a baby hippopotamus, is winning hearts globally with its adorable charm. The hippo baby has a charming demeanor, making her an internet sensation in Thailand and internationally. Thai Zoo is now trying to obtain a patent protection for her image after realizing the potential value of her fame. This patent attempt raises many questions about intellectual property, animal rights, and the future of content in the digital era.

Moo Deng: Rising Fame

Born at a zoo in Thailand, Moo Deng is a baby hippopotamus whose name means “Red Pork” in Thai because of her reddish-brown coloring. Moo Deng had a highly active and curious persona which delighted both zookeepers and visitors. The zoo is located in a popular tourist destination; people started posting images and videos of the hippo on social media, recording her adorable interactions with caretakers.

Started with a few posts, and soon Moo Deng’s videos went viral on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube quickly turning her into an international sensation. Her big expressive eyes and wobbly body attracted viewers all around the world. Her admirers started posting her daily activities online like splashing in the water, cuddling her mother or curiously observing the surroundings, due to which #MooDeng quickly gained popularity. Her fame grew rapidly, bringing millions of likes, comments, and shares.

Moo Deng’s adorable appearance and relatable behavior were comforting and uplifting for people who were looking for heartwarming distractions. Apart from online attention, her pictures began to appear on items, ranging from t-shirts and mugs to plush toys. With this, many artists and businesses started capitalizing on her rising fame.

Patent Protection: Thai Zoo’s Initial Step  

As Moo Deng’s popularity grew, the zoo realized the enormous monetary potential. The management noticed that the viral sensation was drawing attention to the zoo but also carried tremendous cash potential. If Moo Deng’s appearance is not protected, the unauthorized parties would exploit it for financial gain without benefiting the zoo, which is whole and solely responsible for care and upbringing.

To protect their interests, the Thai zoo has taken the first step to obtain a patent on Moo Deng’s image. The motive of this action is to ensure possession of the legal right to manage and profit from her appearance, giving them the power to accept or reject any commercial use of appearance including merchandise and campaign material. The zoo wants to make money so that it can continue funding conservation projects, animal care, and facility restoration.

Are there any rules to commercialize animal fame?

Ethical issues related to the commercialization of animal’s appearance exist in addition to legal concerns. Though the zoo plans to use its profit towards conservation and animal welfare, is it morally right to use an animal’s picture as a commodity? Is it ethical for the zoo to make money off animals’ faces, especially when the animals have no control over the situation?

In the age of social media, where domestic and wild animals are sources of entertainment and money requires an important ethical debate. For example, well-known Instagram accounts with pets frequently make a handsome amount of money from products, sponsored posts, and sponsorships. But in these cases, the owners of these accounts are the humans who manage the animal’s Internet. personality. In the case of Moo Deng, the situation is complicated because the zoo is the caretaker of the animal.

Road Map Ahead  

With the Thai zoo’s effort to patent Moo Deng’s persona, her fans all worldwide will still be awestruck by her adorable image. Whether the patent is granted or not, Moo Deng’s popularity has created a new cross-section between the digital age, animal welfare, and intellectual property. As more and more animals become viral celebrities, people and their owners will keep attempting to patent their faces and encashing through their persona.

Indifferent to human intentions, Moo Deng will keep charming with her antics both offline and online. Her case serves as a potential example of the protection of viral content in the digital domain.  

Conclusion

The argument is still hot about patenting Moo Deng’s face; on one hand, owners can protect the face of their animals from the exploitation of external parties, but on the other hand, it is exploiting the animal’s personality for one’s greed. By securing intellectual property rights, the zoo can make sure the usage of Moo Deng’s persona is conducted under supervision, leading to ethical and financial ventures benefitting both the zoo and conservation protocols.

Patent protection is a requirement for those who use their or their animal’s personality to raise revenue from digital media. The complexities of safeguarding intellectual property can be very confusing but Brealant is there for comprehensive understanding, and the experts will help you navigate through these complexities.