China Starts Registering Trademarks Filed for NFTs and Virtual | NFT & Crypto Updates

China Starts Registering Trademarks Filed for NFTs and Virtual Goods in the Metaverse

The Trademark Office of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (“Chinese Trademark Office” or “the Office”) has recently approved a slew of marks filed for non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”) and other goods and services for use in the metaverse. These include downloadable digital files authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and virtual goods in class 9, displaying virtual goods for retail purposes in class 35, providing virtual goods for entertainment purposes in class 41. China has not previously approved any trademarks filed for NFTs and virtual goods and services until now. The biggest hurdle was that the Chinese Trademark Office typically only accepts standard goods and services that are pre-approved by the Office for national trademark applications. The Chinese Trademark Office is known for being unwilling to adopt new goods and services quickly. As a matter of fact, the Chinese Trademark Office has yet to update the list of standard goods and services nor issue any guidance regarding the classification and description of virtual goods and services.

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