TM5 (Five Trademark Offices) is running an ongoing project titled “Trademarks in Virtual Space,” led by the Korean Intellectual Property Office (MOIP). The project responds to growing interest in virtual spaces and the need for guidance on trademark applications covering virtual goods and services.

Background: IP offices worldwide have begun issuing guidelines for filings related to virtual goods/services. TM5 partners, which together account for over 60% of global trademark applications, see the issue as significant. The work is timely in light of discussions at WIPO’s Nice Committee and of guidelines already adopted by some offices.

Objectives: The project facilitates knowledge exchange among TM5 Partners on filings and examination guidelines for virtual goods/services, seeks greater consensus, and aims to inform policymakers. Through surveys and reports, it compiles filing trends and examination practices across the TM5 offices.

Outcome: Based on a questionnaire circulated to TM5 Partners in June 2024, the Partners compiled examination guidelines, practices and emerging trends for virtual goods and services, including the metaverse, virtual reality, augmented reality and NFTs. The comparative report published in 2026 summarizes each office’s approach to defining virtual goods and services, use of Nice Classification terms, similarity assessment between virtual and physical goods/services, and related enforcement issues. The comparative report is available for download from the TM5 website.

Source：TM5 (Five Trademark Offices)；2026-10-19；https://tmfive.org/trademark-in-virtual-spaces/