January 17, 2022 Public Service

MHM developed a legal framework and provided legal assistance for NFT Art Charity Auctions held by Famiee that issues certificates verifying family relationships, including relationships between same-sex couples, utilizing blockchain technology

Famiee is a private organization that issues, by utilizing blockchain technology, certificates verifying family relationships that may be obtained and used regardless of the place of residence of those family members.  Currently, about 55 corporations and organizations use certificates issued by Famiee for confirming family relationships when offering services for families, such as company benefit programs and medical and insurance coverage.

Famiee announced that it will hold charity auctions utilizing non fungible tokens (NFTs) as a means to raise funds necessary for the development of services and strengthening of operational structures going forward.  Specifically, Famiee obtains permission from artists, corporations, and organizations who endorse those activities to take digital photographs of the art works and create NFTs from those artworks or is supplied with NFT art works from those artists and owners, and sells these art works at the charity auctions.  The firm assisted with the implementation of this project utilizing our expertise in NFTs.

Famiee has set an objective to “realize a society where diverse family forms are accepted.”  The firm has taken various internal and external initiatives for “Diversity & Inclusion,” such as being the first Japanese law firm to endorse the Viewpoint issued by the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) stating that LGBT couples should be granted the right to marry.  The firm will continue to proactively promote “Diversity & Inclusion” in order to realize a society where everyone can be themselves.