A trademark registration is limited not only by the number of countries it covers but also by the kinds of goods and services it applies to. Goods and services are divided into 45 categories, known as classes. Each class groups goods or services that are similar or related – textiles, chemicals or computer services, for example. Official registration fees rise with the number of classes the owner chooses, and most owners register their trademark in 2–3 classes.
The grouping of goods and services into classes of similar or related items has been harmonised worldwide by the Nice Agreement on the classification of trademarks.
GOODS
Class 1 (Chemicals) Class 2 (Paints) Class 3 (Cosmetics and cleaning products) Class 4 (Lubricants and fuels) Class 5 (Pharmaceuticals) Class 6 (Metal goods) Class 7 (Machinery) Class 8 (Hand tools) Class 9 (Electrical and scientific apparatus) Class 10 (Medical apparatus) Class 11 (Environmental control apparatus) Class 12 (Vehicles) Class 13 (Firearms) Class 14 (Jewellery) Class 15 (Musical instruments) Class 16 (Paper goods and printed matter) Class 17 (Rubber goods) Class 18 (Leather goods) Class 19 (Non-metallic building materials) Class 20 (Furniture and unclassified articles) Class 21 (Housewares and glass) Class 22 (Ropes and fibres) Class 23 (Yarns and threads) Class 24 (Fabrics) Class 25 (Clothing) Class 26 (Fancy goods) Class 27 (Floor coverings) Class 28 (Toys and sporting goods) Class 29 (Meat and processed foods) Class 30 (Staple foods) Class 31 (Natural agricultural products) Class 32 (Soft drinks) Class 33 (Wines and spirits) Class 34 (Smokers’ articles)
SERVICES
Class 35 (Advertising and business) Class 36 (Insurance and finance) Class 37 (Building construction and repair) Class 38 (Telecommunications) Class 39 (Transport and storage) Class 40 (Treatment of materials) Class 41 (Education and entertainment) Class 42 (Computers, science and law) Class 43 (Hotels and restaurants) Class 44 (Medical, beauty and agricultural services) Class 45 (Personal)
Detailed class descriptions GOODS
- Class 1 – chemicals for industry, science, photography, agriculture, horticulture and forestry; unprocessed artificial resins and plastics; fertilisers; fire-extinguishing compositions; preparations for tempering and soldering metals; chemicals for preserving foodstuffs; tanning substances; adhesives used in industry
- Class 2 – paints, varnishes, lacquers; preservatives against rust and wood deterioration; colourants; mordants; raw natural resins; metals in foil and powder form for painters, decorators, printers and artists
- Class 3 – bleaching preparations and other laundry substances; cleaning, polishing, degreasing and abrasive preparations; soaps; perfumery, essential oils, cosmetics, hair lotions; dentifrices. Class 4 – industrial oils and greases; lubricants; dust-absorbing, wetting and binding compositions; fuels, including motor fuel, and illuminants; candles and wicks for lighting
- Class 5 – pharmaceutical and veterinary preparations; sanitary preparations for medical use; dietetic substances for medical use, food for babies; plasters and materials for dressings; material for stopping teeth and dental wax; disinfectants; preparations for destroying vermin; fungicides, herbicides
- Class 6 – common metals and their alloys; metal building materials; transportable metal buildings; metal materials for railway tracks; non-electric cables and wires of common metal; ironmongery; small items of metal hardware; metal pipes and tubes; safes; other metal goods not included in other classes; ores
- Class 7 – machines and machine tools; motors and engines (except for land vehicles); machine coupling and transmission components (except for land vehicles); agricultural implements other than hand-operated; incubators for eggs
- Class 8 – hand tools and implements (hand-operated); cutlery; side arms; razors and razor blades
- Class 9 – scientific, nautical, surveying, photographic, cinematographic, optical, signalling, checking (supervision), life-saving and teaching apparatus and instruments, and apparatus for measuring and weighing; apparatus and instruments for conducting, distributing, transforming, storing, regulating or controlling electricity; apparatus for recording, transmitting or reproducing sound or images; magnetic data carriers, recording discs; vending machines and mechanisms for coin-operated apparatus; cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment and computers; fire extinguishers
- Class 10 – surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments; artificial limbs, eyes and teeth; orthopaedic articles; suture materials. Class 11 – apparatus for lighting, heating, steam generating, cooking, refrigerating, drying, ventilating, water supply and sanitary purposes
- Class 12 – vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water
- Class 13 – firearms; ammunition and projectiles; explosives; fireworks
- Class 14 – precious metals and their alloys, and goods made of or coated with precious metals not included in other classes; jewellery, precious stones; horological and other chronometric instruments
- Class 15 – musical instruments
- Class 16 – paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials not included in other classes; printed matter; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery; adhesives for stationery or household use; artists’ materials; paintbrushes; typewriters and office requisites (except furniture); instructional and teaching material (except apparatus); plastic packaging materials not included in other classes; printers’ type; printing blocks
- Class 17 – rubber, gutta-percha, gum, asbestos, mica and goods made from these materials not included in other classes; plastics in extruded form for use in manufacture; packing, stopping and insulating materials; flexible pipes, not of metal
- Class 18 – leather and imitation leather, and goods made from these materials not included in other classes; animal skins, hides; trunks and travelling bags; umbrellas, parasols and walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery
- Class 19 – non-metallic building materials; non-metallic rigid pipes for building; asphalt, pitch and bitumen; non-metallic transportable buildings; monuments, not of metal
- Class 20 – furniture, mirrors, picture frames; goods (not included in other classes) of wood, cork, reed, cane, wicker, horn, bone, ivory, whalebone, shell, tortoiseshell, amber, mother-of-pearl, meerschaum and substitutes for all these materials, or of plastics
- Class 21 – household or kitchen utensils and containers; combs and sponges; brushes (except paintbrushes); brush-making materials; articles for cleaning purposes; steel wool; unworked or semi-worked glass (except building glass); glassware, porcelain and earthenware not included in other classes
- Class 22 – ropes, string, nets, tents, awnings, tarpaulins, sails, sacks and bags not included in other classes; padding and stuffing materials (except of rubber or plastics); raw fibrous textile materials
- Class 23 – yarns and threads for textile use
- Class 24 – textiles and textile goods not included in other classes; bed covers and table covers
- Class 25 – clothing, footwear and headgear
- Class 26 – lace and embroidery, ribbons and braid; buttons, hooks and eyes, pins and needles; artificial flowers
- Class 27 – carpets, rugs, mats and matting, linoleum and other floor coverings; non-textile wall hangings
- Class 28 – games and playthings; gymnastic and sporting articles not included in other classes; Christmas tree decorations
- Class 29 – meat, fish, poultry and game; meat extracts; preserved, dried and cooked fruit and vegetables; jellies, jams, compotes, fruit sauces; eggs, milk and dairy products; edible oils and fats.
- Class 30 – coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, rice, tapioca, sago, coffee substitutes; flour and cereal preparations, bread, pastry and confectionery, ices; honey, treacle; yeast, baking powder; salt, mustard; vinegar, sauces (condiments); spices; ice
- Class 31 – agricultural, horticultural and forestry products and grains not included in other classes; live animals; fresh fruit and vegetables; seeds, natural plants and flowers; animal feed, malt
- Class 32 – beers; mineral and aerated waters and other non-alcoholic drinks; fruit drinks and fruit juices; syrups and other preparations for making beverages
- Class 33 – alcoholic beverages (except beers);
- Class 34 – tobacco; smokers’ articles; matches
SERVICES
- Class 35 – advertising; business management; business administration; office functions
- Class 36 – insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs
- Class 37 – building construction; repair; installation services
- Class 38 – telecommunications;
- Class 39 – transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement
- Class 40 – treatment of materials
- Class 41 – education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities
- Class 42 – scientific and technological services and related research; industrial analysis and research services; design and development of computer hardware and software;
- Class 43 – services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation
- Class 44 – medical services; veterinary services; hygienic and beauty care for human beings or animals; agriculture, horticulture and forestry services
- Class 45 – legal services provided to individuals, associations, organisations and businesses; personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals; security services for the protection of property and individuals.