There is no separate NFT trademark law in 2026. Offices apply the same rules to virtual goods that they use for physical goods. The key shift is classification: the 12th edition of the Nice Classification (2023 version) put virtual goods and NFT-authenticated files in Class 9 and expects precise wording. Enforcement in the US and EU follows the familiar confusion and dilution tests. Buying an NFT never transfers IP by itself.
What changed with Nice 12, and why does it matter?
The 2023 version of Nice 12 made virtual goods and NFT-authenticated digital files explicit, mainly in Class 9. That clarity helps you file correctly. It also raised the bar on wording. EUIPO and USPTO practice treats an NFT as a way to authenticate a specific digital item, so you must name the content, not just say "NFTs".
- Class 9 now expressly covers downloadable virtual goods and digital files authenticated by non-fungible tokens.
- EUIPO practice requires specificity: "downloadable digital art authenticated by non-fungible tokens", not "NFTs" alone.
- National offices have aligned with the same approach.
Which Nice classes should you claim for NFTs and virtual goods?
Most metaverse filings span four classes. Class 9 for downloadable virtual goods and NFT-authenticated files. Class 35 for retail of virtual goods. Class 41 for virtual entertainment. Class 42 for the technical side, such as blockchain or token-minting tools.
- Class 9: downloadable virtual goods, digital files authenticated by NFTs, downloadable software.
- Class 35: retail store services featuring virtual goods.
- Class 41: entertainment in virtual worlds, online game services, virtual exhibitions.
- Class 42: software as a service for minting, verifying or storing NFTs, and other technical services.
If you are unsure which of these fit your product, Class Assist maps your goods and services to the right classes.
Model identifications you can use today
Fashion
- Class 9: "Downloadable virtual clothing and footwear; downloadable virtual handbags; downloadable virtual fashion items authenticated by non-fungible tokens."
- Class 35: "Online retail store services featuring virtual clothing and accessories, including goods authenticated by non-fungible tokens."
- Class 41: "Providing online virtual fashion shows and virtual try-on experiences."
- Class 42: "Software as a service for creating and authenticating non-fungible tokens linked to virtual fashion items."
Gaming
- Class 9: "Downloadable game software; downloadable virtual goods for use in online virtual worlds, namely, skins, weapons, characters, and virtual currency, authenticated by non-fungible tokens."
- Class 35: "Retail store services featuring virtual in-game items and downloadable game content."
- Class 41: "Providing online video games and esports events in virtual environments."
- Class 42: "Platform as a service featuring software for minting, trading, and verifying non-fungible tokens tied to in-game items."
Art and media
- Class 9: "Downloadable digital art files authenticated by non-fungible tokens; downloadable audiovisual recordings authenticated by non-fungible tokens."
- Class 35: "Online marketplace services for buyers and sellers of digital art authenticated by non-fungible tokens."
- Class 41: "Organizing virtual art exhibitions and online shows in 3D virtual environments."
- Class 42: "Providing temporary use of non-downloadable software for verifying the authenticity of non-fungible tokens."
Practical filing tips
- Avoid overbroad wording like "NFTs". Name the thing. "Downloadable digital collectibles in the nature of trading cards authenticated by non-fungible tokens" will sail further than "NFT collectibles".
- If your existing registration covers physical goods only, file a new Class 9 application plus the related services you actually use.
For a broader primer on class picking, see our guide, Nice Classification: How to Choose the Right Trademark Classes.
Does owning or minting an NFT give you trademark rights in the content?
No. Owning a token does not grant trademark or any other IP rights in the linked asset. Trademark ownership flows from use and registration, and any right to use a brand on or with an NFT must be granted in a written license or assignment.
What the chain of title looks like
- On-chain token: owned by the wallet holder.
- Off-chain or on-chain asset: the underlying art, file or virtual good stays with the IP owner unless expressly transferred.
- Trademark rights: controlled by the brand owner and licensed with quality control.
How should you license your mark for an NFT drop or a virtual store?
Keep it tight and practical. Your license needs to say exactly what the licensee can mint, where, and how the mark can appear. It also needs quality control. That is what keeps the trademark valid and avoids a naked license.
A short checklist we use with clients
- Scope of goods and services, tied to Nice classes. Name the digital items and any NFT qualifiers.
- Territory, platforms and storefronts. List the marketplaces and in-game worlds where use is permitted, and who may request de-listings.
- Quality control. Brand guidelines for visual placement, metadata fields, alt text and packaging for any physical tie-ins.
- On-chain specifics. Wallets permitted to mint, contract addresses, metadata updates, freeze rules and takedown cooperation.
- Royalties and audit. Primary sales, secondary sales or hybrid models, and how to verify them.
- Consumer disclosures. What is included with the NFT, what is not, and any expiry conditions for brand features.
- Sublicensing and influencers. When they are allowed and how they are approved.
Will your physical-goods registration cover virtual goods?
Not reliably. Offices treat virtual goods and NFT-authenticated content as distinct. Many brands add Class 9 plus related Class 35 and 41 services to police virtual use effectively.
If you plan to enforce against virtual lookalikes, file now with precise Class 9 wording. It strengthens takedowns and makes settlements faster.
How do US and EU enforcement standards apply in virtual worlds?
Traditional tests still run the show. In the US, infringement and dilution live in the Lanham Act. In the EU, the EUTMR standards apply. Courts and offices are adapting those rules to how consumers meet brands in virtual spaces.
Translating likelihood of confusion to the metaverse
- Similarity of marks. Avatars, skins and storefront signs count as marks in context.
- Similarity of goods or services. Virtual sneakers can be related to physical sneakers, but do not assume automatic overlap. Filing in Class 9 helps.
- Channels of trade. Marketplaces, in-game stores and social feeds are relevant channels.
- Purchaser care. Low-friction minting can lower care and heighten confusion.
- Actual confusion. Comments and support tickets are gold. So are marketplace reviews.
Evidence we gather before sending a takedown or complaint
- Full listing captures, including title, creator name, contract address and screenshots of the mark in use.
- Consumer reactions indicating confusion or assumed affiliation.
- Metadata or chain data linking the drop to a known infringer.
- Side-by-side visuals and a short survey of similar official releases.
- Affidavits on your brand's virtual presence and press coverage.
For a refresher on the confusion test itself, see Likelihood of Confusion: The #1 Reason Trademarks Get Refused.
What does "use" look like, and what specimens work in the US?
Use still means use in commerce. For virtual goods, that can be live listings of downloadable files or in-game items bearing your mark. Specimens often include marketplace product pages, in-app screenshots showing point-of-sale context, and download confirmations tied to the mark. Our specimen guide shows what the USPTO accepts and rejects.
In the EU, you do not need proof at filing, but non-use vulnerability begins after five years. Plan to build clean evidence folders as you launch each virtual release.
If you have ongoing drops or live in-game stores, set up watch and response workflows. Our trademark monitoring service runs the watch; the plain-English guide to post-registration policing is Trademark Monitoring and Enforcement: Protecting Your Brand After Registration.
Filing strategy for 2026: where and when?
File where you sell or will sell within the next 12 to 24 months. In practice, that is often the US and EU first for metaverse projects. The USPTO base application is $350 per class. An EU trade mark costs €850 for one class, €50 for a second and €150 for each further class. Multi-class filings, precise identifications and consistent specimens make later enforcement easier. Start with US trademark filing or EU trademark filing, and for priority and budget trade-offs see US vs EU Trademark: Which Should Your Business File First?.
We are an attorney-led team that files and enforces trademarks in the US, the EU and other major markets. If you are planning a virtual launch, we can scope a Class 9 and services package, draft compliant identifications and prepare evidence kits for fast takedowns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do existing registrations for physical goods cover virtual goods or NFT-authenticated files?
Not reliably. Offices treat virtual goods and NFT-authenticated digital content as distinct from physical goods. Brand owners typically file in Class 9, and related services classes, with specific identifications that name the digital content.
How should I draft identifications for NFTs?
Avoid "NFTs" standing alone. Specify the type of digital item, for example "downloadable digital art authenticated by non-fungible tokens" in Class 9, and consider related Classes 35 and 41 for retail and entertainment services.
Does buying or issuing an NFT transfer trademark or other IP in the associated asset?
No. NFT ownership concerns the token. Trademark and other IP in the associated content remain with the rights holder unless there is an express assignment or license that transfers those rights.
What enforcement standards are applied to NFT or metaverse infringements?
Traditional frameworks apply. In the US, courts apply Lanham Act tests, including likelihood of confusion and dilution. In the EU, EUTMR principles govern with a similar confusion and dilution analysis for virtual uses.
Which Nice classes most often capture metaverse and NFT activity?
Class 9 for downloadable virtual goods and digital files authenticated by NFTs, Class 35 for retail services featuring virtual goods, Class 41 for virtual entertainment, and Class 42 for related technical services.
Is there a separate global statute for NFT trademarks in 2026?
No. Authorities are applying existing national and regional trademark laws to virtual goods and NFTs. They are adapting the concepts of goods and services, and use in commerce, to digital contexts.
