On 31 July 2026, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) issued a dedicated report on intellectual property protection for the esports and gaming sector, alongside the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. The report separates a game into distinct protectable assets: source code and underlying scripts may fall under copyright, user interfaces and character models may qualify for industrial design protection, interactive technologies and hardware innovations may support patent filings, while names, event identities and commercial signs remain within the trademark system. For creators,...

On 30 July 2026, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) issued the final version of its revised design examination guidelines for virtual spaces and metaverse-related subject matter. The guidance clarifies how purely digital UI/UX, virtual buildings and digital assets such as in-game skins or virtual furniture may qualify as independent designs even when they are not tied to a physical product.The update also gives Hague System applicants designating Japan more detailed filing instructions, including drawing standards for dynamic views and the electronic format for an “environment separation...