Virtual Jam Challenges Developers to Level Up Using the Power of IP

Do you have a big idea for the next game everyone around the world will know? The Next Great IP Game Jam is challenging game developers to create franchise-worthy concepts with the potential to become legendary intellectual property (IP).

Join this jam with Global Game Jam and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to start bringing your vision to life and level up your knowledge of IP protection as you go! The earlier you consider IP, the better you can protect your ideas as your game takes shape.

🎮 Next Great IP Game Jam

October 9 – 27, 2025

Virtual jam

The initiative will engage young game developers between the ages of 15 and 35 in not only making a game, but also understanding the role and relevance of IP throughout the creative and business process.

Jammers will design games with franchise potential, focusing on characters, branding, and merchandising. The jam simulates the IP commercialization chain and highlights the importance of protecting original content from the outset.

As this jam is part of WIPO’s IP and Youth Empowerment Strategy (IP-YES!), teams must be youth-led, with at least one team lead aged 15-35. Additional members over 35 are welcome.

JOIN THE JAM

Through tailored knowledge sessions led by experts from around the world, participants will learn how copyright, trademarks, patents and design rights can protect and strengthen their creations, ensuring that the ideas they develop during the jam are truly IP-ready and capable of growing into sustainable franchises.

Join us on October 9 at 5 p.m. UTC/1 p.m. ET in Livestream Kick-Off as we introduce the jam, share the scoring criteria and talk about “What is IP anyway?” exploring best practices and what game devs should know.

Sign up to attend the kickoff here：https://globalgamejam.org/wipo

Full Jam Timeline:

October 9 – JAM KICKOFF

October 9 at 5 p.m. UTC/1 p.m. ET – Livestream/Webinar: Next Great IP Jam Live Kick-Off Event Sign Up.

October 15 at 5 p.m. UTC/1 p.m. ET – Webinar: IP Mistakes Too Many Indies Make (And How to Avoid Them) Sign Up.

October 16 – 12 p.m. UTC/5:30 p.m. IST/ 8 p.m. China – Webinar: Getting IP Right: Tips for Indie Devs Sign Up.

October 17 – Feedback Friday (Mid-Jam Check-In)

October 22 at 5 p.m. UTC/1 p.m. ET – Webinar: IP in the Age of AI Sign Up.

The jam will also feature “Not Legal Advice” – Ask an Expert (Drop-In Office Hours).

October 27 – 11:59 p.m. UTC-11 – SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Week of November 17 – Best Games Announced

Hosted By

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized United Nations agency that serves the world’s innovators and creators, ensuring that their ideas enter safely to the market and improve lives everywhere. We do so by providing services that enable creators, innovators and entrepreneurs to protect and promote their intellectual property (IP) across borders and acting as a forum for addressing cutting-edge IP issues. Our IP data and information guide decision makers the world over, and our impact-driven projects and technical assistance ensure IP benefits everyone, everywhere.

The Global Game Jam inspires game creators to experiment, innovate, and collaborate. Each year, GGJ organizes the world’s largest game jam, bringing together tens of thousands of participants across hundreds of sites worldwide. Founded in 2008, GGJ will celebrate its 17th edition from Jan. 26 – Feb. 1, 2026, with over 500,000 lifetime participants. GGJ also runs the world’s largest youth game jam, GGJ Next, and works to support and grow game development ecosystems around the world year-round.