New Trademark Guidelines

Classification of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), virtual goods and related services. Impact of the IPI's new Trade Mark Protection Guidelines on trade mark applications concerning virtual goods and services

Classification Practice of the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property

The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) published its new guidelines in trademark matters on 1 January 2024. The new guidelines contain explanations on adapting the IPI's practice with regard to trademark applications in connection with virtual goods, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and services in virtual environments. The classification practice is set out in Part 2, section 4.16 of the guidelines in trademark matters. At the same time, the new rule of the general remarks of the Nice Classification regarding services provided in a virtual environment has been included in Part 2, section 4.2. The changes in practice concern the classification of goods and