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Classes Explained

What Are Trademark Classes?

When you register a trademark, you can't just protect it for "everything." You must specify the goods or services your brand applies to. To standardise this process, the international trademark system uses a classification system called the "Nice Classification" (pronounced 'neese').

This system organises all possible goods and services into 45 distinct "classes."

  • Classes 1-34 cover Goods (e.g., Class 25 for clothing, Class 9 for software).
  • Classes 35-45 cover Services (e.g., Class 35 for advertising and business management, Class 42 for IT services).

Why Are Classes So Important?

Choosing the correct classes is one of the most critical parts of your application.

  • Scope of Protection: Your trademark is only protected for the classes you register it in. If you register a brand for "T-shirts" (Class 25), it doesn't stop someone else from using a similar name for "Restaurant services" (Class 43).
  • Cost: The cost of your trademark application is directly tied to the number of classes you select.
  • Conflicts: When checking if your trademark is available, the registry will search for similar, pre-existing trademarks in your selected classes and any closely related ones.

How to Choose Your Classes

  1. Describe Your Business: Start by writing a clear, simple description of what you sell or what service you provide.
  2. Identify Keywords: Pull out the key nouns from your description. (e.g., "We sell software for financial management and provide consulting.")
  3. Match to Classes: Use these keywords to find the right classes.
    • "Software" falls under Class 9.
    • "Financial management" falls under Class 36.
    • "Business consulting" falls under Class 35.

It is common for a single business to require registration in multiple classes to be fully protected.

Feeling unsure? This is what we are here for. Use our free Class Suggestion Tool, or contact us directly for expert advice to ensure your brand is properly protected from day one.

Use the Free Class Tool