During the pandemic, there was a proliferation of services which, whilst traditionally provided in person, have moved to being provided virtually, via the use of Internet based applications such as video-conferencing, instant messaging, and the like. If a service is capable of being delivered via virtual means, IPO will continue to accept such services, with examples of acceptable terminology being:
education and training services delivered by virtual means [class 41]
conducting interactive virtual auctions [class 35]
The metaverse is a form of digital reality, where people can access virtual worlds and interact with others. There is no reason, in principle, why a service capable of being delivered by virtual means, such as video-conferencing, cannot be delivered inside the metaverse. For example, a training service could be provided through, attended, and delivered inside the metaverse. As such, IPO will accept services provided through the metaverse in the same class as more traditional forms of delivery, with examples of acceptable terms being:
education and training services provided via the metaverse [class 41]
conducting interactive auctions via the metaverse [class 35]
It may not be possible to take the same approach for all “metaverse” services. This is because the manifestation of that service in the metaverse may not fall in the same class as the traditional form of delivery. For example, whilst it may be possible to order food and drink inside the metaverse for delivery or consumption in the physical world, a metaverse avatar “consuming” food and drink within the metaverse would not constitute a class 43 service. Where provision via the metaverse is specifically mentioned, but where it is not immediately apparent that the service sought can be provided inside the metaverse, clarification will be sought by the examiner. Services that fall foul of the above paragraph may in fact be covered by a more general category of services, in that what is actually being provided is the access to a virtual world or the metaverse for the purpose of entertainment. As such, the following type of terminology may be appropriate:
entertainment services, namely, provision of a virtual reality or metaverse based simulation gaming service