Find Your Trademark Class

Choosing the right classification is crucial for a successful trademark registration. If your trademark is rejected, the Trademarks Office will not refund your application fees. It's important to have a trademark expert review your selection to assess its strength against competitors, as objections and oppositions are on the rise.

You can use our Trademark Search Tool to identify the class number.

Trademark classifications are essential for the registration process but can sometimes be confusing. The 45 categories in the Nice Agreement provide a broad overview of different areas of commerce. Start by focusing on your main business and clearly describe the products or services you offer. Once you identify the most suitable category, consider additional commercial activities. Include as many trademark categories as necessary to protect the property rights you wish to secure. Business plans often cover various areas to maintain flexibility in the market. Select classes that align with your long-term objectives. Choosing the right trademark class will not only increase the chances of approval but also strengthen your ability to defend against future infringements.

You can also determine your class number using our Trademark Class Search tool.

When submitting your trademark application, the classification choices depend on how you define your goods or services. After defining them, find at least one classification class that matches your business description. Consider other overlapping trademark classes that also represent your goods or services. Additionally, think about coordinated classes. Your selection of one or more classification categories will significantly affect the approval or rejection of your application.

When you fill out a trademark registration application, you need to include the correct trademark class. This is because Trademark Offices worldwide use these classes to organize trademarks into groups of goods and services, making it easier to check for potential conflicts. This system helps differentiate the many trademarks globally and is a crucial step in reviewing new applications. It allows for a more efficient comparison of similar trademarks within related industries.

Knowing the right trademark class for your mark is also important for your protection. By selecting the most suitable class, you can compare your trademark with those already used by competitors in your market. How does your mark's uniqueness and distinctiveness measure up? Does it give you a competitive advantage in conveying your brand's message?

The classification system also makes it easier for competitors to search for your mark and avoid infringement issues. The USPTO's Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual is one of several resources available for online trademark searches. Choosing a trademark class when applying helps notify your target audience about your mark and assists in researching existing marks to prevent future conflicts.

If you're unsure which class or classes best protect your goods and services, you should review the NCL listing. Alternatively, consider ordering a professionally prepared Trademark Comprehensive Study. Our experienced attorneys can review your product or service description and match it to the most appropriate class(es). They will contact you if they need further clarification.

In 1957, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) established the Nice Classification (NCL). This system organizes goods and services into a single classification framework. Since the agreement includes trademarks registered in multiple languages, it helps in searching for marks that might require translation. NCL divides business activities into 45 classes: 34 for products and 11 for services.

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has created a detailed list of goods and services within each class, offering further distinctions. These entries provide more detail but are not mandatory categories. Given the complexity and widespread use of this classification system, it is advisable to seek professional assistance for a trademark search. The USPTO and most countries globally have adopted the NCL protocol.

The Classification Agreement includes over 10,000 goods and 1,000 services. A new edition is released every five years, with an updated version published annually. Trademark offices in countries that have adopted this agreement must incorporate the NCL codes in their official documents.

You can find your class number using our Trademark Class search tool.

https://www.wipo.int/classifications/nice/en/faq.

The Nice Classification System organizes goods and services into different classes, and you can register your trademark in one or more of these classes.

Some countries permit only one class per application, while others allow multiple classes in a single application.

Filing separate applications for each class means that each class is processed independently. If one class faces an objection or opposition, it won't impact the others. However, this approach can be more expensive due to multiple applications.

On the other hand, a multi-class application (where allowed) is more cost-effective, but if one class encounters an objection or opposition, it can affect the entire application.

In the first approach, the number of classes doesn't influence the likelihood of registration for each application. In the second approach, more classes mean higher exposure and increased chances of objections or oppositions.

The Trademarks Office issues a certificate for each application, not for each class. Keep in mind that not all countries permit multi-class applications.