A Comprehensive Guide on Different Classes of Trademark

Goods and services providers willing to register a Trademark in India must specify the classes of goods and services they fall under in the application form. To classify or categorise these goods and services in India, NICE Classification is followed. Hence, individuals who have recently started a business and wish to make their products or services unique must know the various classes of Trademark.

This piece thoroughly talks about different classes of Trademarks in India. Read on!

According to the Nice Classification (NCL) for a Trademark, the same is segmented into 45 classes. It is an international classification system that is used for classifying goods and services for filing Trademark registration.

As stated in the introductory paragraph, there are 45 Nice Classifications, out of which classes 1-34 covers goods and products and 35-45 protect services related to Trademark.

When businesspersons apply for Trademark registration, they must conduct a Trademark search to ensure there is not any other similar mark or logo active in the market. Along with this, they must choose the right class of the Trademark to ensure the registration process continues without any objection or opposition.

Businesspersons can apply for Trademarks in more than one class. Some businesses can include a wide range of goods and services. Hence, if a business person registers for a single Trademark under one class, another business person needs to register for the same mark or logo under another category.

That’s why business persons must choose the right class of offered goods and services carefully and protect them from any kind of mishap.

The following sections provide a detailed guide on the Trademark classification.

The Trademark classification of goods is mentioned below.

Class 1 - Chemicals used in industry, science and photography, unprocessed artificial resins, unprocessed plastics; fire extinguishing and fire prevention compositions; agriculture, horticulture and forestry; tempering and soldering preparations; substances for tanning animal skins and hides; putties and other paste fillers; compost, manures, fertilisers; adhesives for use in industry; biological preparations for use in industry and science.

Class 2 - Paints, varnishes, lacquers; inks for printing, marking and engraving; raw natural resins; preservatives against rust and deterioration of wood; colourants, dyes; metals in foil and powder form for use in painting, decorating, printing and art.

Class 3 - Perfumery, essential oils; non-medicated cosmetics and toiletry preparations; non-medicated dentifrices; bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use; cleaning, polishing, scouring and abrasive preparations.

Class 4 - Lubricants; dust absorbing, wetting and binding compositions; industrial oils and greases, wax; fuels and illuminants; candles and wicks for lighting.

Class 5 - Pharmaceuticals, medical and veterinary preparations; sanitary preparations for medical purposes; dietetic food and substances adapted for medical or veterinary use, food for babies; dietary supplements for human beings and animals; plasters, materials for dressings; material for stopping teeth, dental wax; disinfectants; preparations for destroying vermin; fungicides, herbicides.

Class 6 - Common metals and their alloys, ores; transportable buildings of metal; non-electric cables and wires of common metal; small items of metal hardware; metal materials for building and construction; metal containers for storage or transport; safes.

Class 7 - Machines, machine tools, power-operated tools; motors and engines, except for land vehicles; agricultural implements, other than hand-operated hand tools; incubators for eggs; automatic vending machines; machine coupling and transmission components, except for land vehicles.

Class 8 - Hand tools and implements, hand-operated; razors; cutlery; side arms, except firearms.

Class 9 - Scientific, research, cinematographic, detecting, testing, inspecting, audiovisual, optical, navigation, surveying, photographic, weighing, measuring, signaling, life-saving and teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus and instruments for conducting, accumulating, switching, transforming, regulating or controlling the distribution or use of electricity; recorded and downloadable media, computer software, blank digital or analogue recording and storage media; mechanisms for coin-operated apparatus; diving suits, divers’ masks, earplugs for divers, nose clips for divers and swimmers, gloves for divers, breathing apparatus for underwater swimming; cash registers, calculating devices; apparatus and instruments for recording, transmitting, reproducing or processing sound, images or data; computers and computer peripheral devices; fire-extinguishing apparatus.

Class 10 - Surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments; suture materials; therapeutic and assistive devices adapted for persons with disabilities; artificial limbs, eyes and teeth; orthopaedic articles; massage apparatus; apparatus, devices and articles for nursing infants; sexual activity apparatus, devices and articles.

Class 11 - Apparatus and installations for lighting, heating, cooking, drying, ventilating, cooling, steam generating, water supply and sanitary purposes.

Class 12 - Vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water.

Class 13 - Firearms; explosives; ammunition and projectiles; fireworks.

Class 14 - Precious metals and their alloys; horological and chronometric instruments; jewellery, precious and semi-precious stones.

Class 15 - Musical instruments; stands for musical instruments; conductors’ batons.

Class 16 - Paper and cardboard; stationery and office requisites, except furniture; adhesives for stationery or household purposes; printed matter; bookbinding material; photographs; drawing materials and materials for artists; instructional and teaching materials; plastic sheets, films and bags for wrapping and packaging; paintbrushes; printers’ type, printing blocks.

Class 17 - Unprocessed and semi-processed rubber, asbestos, mica gutta-percha, gum, and substitutes for all these materials; packing, stopping, and insulating materials; plastics and resins in extruded form for use in manufacture; flexible pipes, tubes and hoses, not of metal.

Class 18 - Leather and imitations of leather; collars, leashes and clothing for animals; animal skins and hides; umbrellas and parasols; walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery; luggage and carrying bags.

Class 19 - Rigid pipes, not of metal, for building; asphalt, pitch, tar and bitumen; transportable buildings, not of metal; materials, not of metal, for building and construction; monuments, not of metal.

Class 20 - Furniture, mirrors, picture frames; containers, not of metal, for storage or transport; shells; meerschaum; yellow amber; unworked or semi-worked bone, horn, whalebone or mother-of-pearl.

Class 21 - Household or kitchen utensils and containers; combs and sponges; brushes, except paintbrushes; brush-making materials; cookware and tableware, except forks, knives and spoons; articles for cleaning purposes; unworked or semi-worked glass, except building glass; glassware, porcelain and earthenware.

Class 22 - Ropes and string; sails; sacks for the transport and storage of materials in bulk; nets; tents and tarpaulins; awnings of textile or synthetic materials; raw fibrous textile materials and substitutes; padding, cushioning and stuffing materials, except for paper, cardboard, rubber or plastics.

Class 23 - Yarns and threads for textile use.

Class 24 - Textiles and substitutes for textiles; household linen; curtains of textile or plastic.

Class 25 - Clothing, footwear, headwear.

Class 26 - Lace, braid and embroidery, and haberdashery ribbons and bows; artificial flowers; hair decorations; false hair; buttons, hooks and eyes, pins and needles.

Class 27 - Carpets, rugs, mats and matting, linoleum and other materials for covering existing floors; wall hangings, not of textile.

Class 28 - Games, toys and playthings; video game apparatus; gymnastic and sporting articles; decorations for Christmas trees.

Class 29 - Meat, fish, poultry and game; preserved, frozen, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables; meat extracts; jellies, jams, compotes; eggs; oils and fats for food; milk, cheese, butter, yogurt and other milk products.

Class 30 - Coffee, tea, cocoa and artificial coffee; rice, pasta and noodles; bread, pastries and confectionery; chocolate; salt, seasonings, spices, preserved herbs; ice cream, sorbets and other edible ices; tapioca and sago; flour and preparations made from cereals; sugar, honey, treacle; yeast, baking-powder; vinegar, sauces and other condiments; ice (frozen water).

Class 31 - Raw and unprocessed agricultural, aquacultural, horticultural and forestry products; foodstuffs and beverages for animals; fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs; natural plants and flowers; raw and unprocessed grains and seeds; bulbs, seedlings and seeds for planting; live animals; malt.

Class 32 - Beers; non-alcoholic beverages; fruit beverages and fruit juices; mineral and aerated waters; syrups and other non-alcoholic preparations for making beverages.

Class 33 - Alcoholic beverages, except beers; alcoholic preparations for making beverages.

Class 34 - Tobacco and tobacco substitutes; electronic cigarettes and oral vaporisers for smokers; cigarettes and cigars; smokers’ articles; matches.

Following is the list of Trademark classes of services.

Class 35 - Advertising; business management; office functions; business administration.

Class 36 - Insurance; monetary affairs; financial affairs; real estate affairs.

Class 37 - Construction services; mining extraction, oil and gas drilling; installation and repair services.

Class 38 - Telecommunications services.

Class 39 - Transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement.

Class 40 - Treatment of materials; air purification and treatment of water; recycling of waste and trash; printing services; food and drink preservation.

Class 41 - Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities.

Class 42 - Scientific and technological services and research and design relating thereto; quality control and authentication services; industrial analysis, industrial research and industrial design services; design and development of computer hardware and software.

Class 43 - Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation.

Class 44 - Medical services; hygienic and beauty care for human beings or animals; veterinary services; agriculture, aquaculture, horticulture and forestry services.

Class 45 - Legal services; security services for the physical protection of tangible property and individuals; personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals.

Knowledge about the Trademark categories is essential for a seamless registration process. The registration process is important to protect and distinguish products and services provided by a businessperson from other products and services of the same class. Trademark registration benefits goods and services providers in many ways. These are discussed in the next section.

Here is a list of benefits of Trademark registration.

• Trademark registration provides business persons exclusive Trademark rights, which helps to prevent any unauthorised use of the mark or logo.
• This process helps to differentiate business persons' exclusive products or services from others in the same business.
• Trademark registration helps in brand recognition and creates market value over time.
• Trademark registration comes with a validity of 10 years. With minimal maintenance and renewal costs, business persons can give their goods and services a unique identity. 
• The application process and resultant Trademark aids in creating a valuable asset and getting the exclusive right to sell, franchise, assign and commercially create a contract for a business.
• Trademark registration helps businesspersons expand their business in other countries as the process will act as a base to process registration outside India.   

Go through the classes of Trademark mentioned above attentively and complete your Trademark registration without any hassle.