France Explores Metaverse Potential

MetaversePlanet April 13, 2023

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In response to the evolving landscape of metaverse user experiences and potential challenges for local businesses entering these virtual worlds, the French government is proactively developing a strategy tailored to this burgeoning field.

Aimed at carving out a “French strategy” for the metaverse, referred to as the “virtual spiral universe,” the government seeks to provide an alternative to the offerings of international behemoths by engaging public input on the subject.

On April 11, the Directorate General for Business in France initiated a consultation on “virtual spaces,” inviting a wide array of stakeholders including companies, associations, citizens, and researchers to respond to a set of questions.

The primary goal of this consultation is to better understand metaverse technology and to propose a French alternative to the virtual multidimensional universes currently dominated by global powerhouses.

The search for an alternative to the Metaverse continues

The French General Directorate of Enterprises has highlighted the swift advancement of virtual and augmented reality technologies, emphasizing their burgeoning significance within the economic discourse. Many companies are now identifying themselves either as providers of solutions or as users within this space.

The consultation deliberately refrained from directly using the term “metaverse,” underscoring its openness to public debate and the chance to delve into the consultation’s implications.

The survey, tailored differently for citizens, businesses, associations, and researchers, primarily probes the awareness of virtual spaces, the demand for such environments, and the potential hurdles encountered.

Notably, while there are common inquiries across all groups, specific questions are uniquely designed for each. Citizens are asked about their familiarity and concerns with technologies like mixed reality, blockchain, and 3D creation software, as well as their interest in future virtual immersion events.

Businesses are queried about obstacles impeding French companies’ efforts in developing metaverses, along with their anticipations regarding professional and public demand. They are encouraged to contemplate the factors influencing the future’s virtual worlds.

Both businesses and researchers are consulted on the prioritization of funding areas, with researchers also invited to share their perspectives on their virtual spiral experiences through multiple-choice and descriptive questions.

This initiative follows a panel discussion involving industry experts during Paris Blockchain Week on March 22, focusing on regulatory interpretation of metaverse activities and the integration of businesses into these virtual realms.

Additionally, attorney Julie Jacob, founder of Jacob Avocats law firm, highlighted the absence of a standardized approach at the panel, pointing out the significant opportunity to establish guidelines and ethical norms for the metaverse.