NFTs as “Goods” — A Landmark Ruling for Digital Branding

The Bored Apes are making legal history again—but this time in court.

In Yuga Labs, Inc. v. Ripps, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that NFTs (non-fungible tokens) qualify as “goods” under U.S. trademark law. This means NFTs, though intangible, are now firmly covered by the Lanham Act—the same law that protects physical products like shoes, clothing, and electronics.

Why This Decision Is Groundbreaking

Traditionally, trademarks protect physical goods or services. But NFTs represent a purely digital market, where images, music, and collectibles live entirely online. By classifying NFTs as “goods,” the court extended trademark protections into the metaverse.

What This Means for Creators & Businesses

• Artists & Developers: You can trademark your NFT collections just like physical products.

• Buyers & Collectors: Trademark law now offers an added layer of security against counterfeit NFTs.

• Businesses: Companies entering Web3 need to protect their digital assets early to avoid costly disputes.

The Bigger Picture

This case signals that U.S. trademark law will continue evolving to match technological innovation. From sneakers to digital apes, the principle remains the same: trademarks protect brand identity.

For businesses exploring NFTs, this ruling makes one thing clear, your digital assets deserve the same protection as your physical ones.