Nintendo has filed a new trademark for their Mario Kart franchise in Japan, this time seemingly exclusively for merchandise.

Unlike the previous Mario Kart trademark, this one appears to have nothing to do with video games. Instead, it appears to be entirely merchandise related. The trademark encompasses goods such as “brushes, combs, toothbrushes, dental flosses, kitchen utensils, mugs, cups, dishes, lunch boxes, water bottles, drinking straws, shoehorns, chopsticks, household linen products, shower curtains, and more”.

One wonders if this means that Nintendo is planning a new line of Mario Kart related merch, or if this new trademark is just a precaution to defend their intellectual property. We will be sure to bring more information as it comes.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.