Trade mark classification

Intellectual Property Offices worldwide (including the UK Trade Mark Registrar and EU IP Office) use the NICE Classification System. This trade mark classification system is divided into 45 different classes, which group together similar goods and services. Specifically, classes 1 to 34 cover goods and classes 35 to 45 cover services.

Each class consists of a list of goods and services, but the list is not exhaustive. You can select the appropriate class or classes of goods and services you wish to apply for and pay a separate filing fee for each class. It is possible to register for multiple classes.

Once you register your trade mark under a specific class, you'll be able to take legal action against anyone who uses your brand without your permission, including counterfeiters.

This means once you have registered your mark, you will be afforded greater protection, eg there is no need to prove the elements of passing off (goodwill and reputation). Legal proceedings and dealings are also simplified, in that once you register your trade mark under the appropriate class, your title to that mark is assumed.  

To determine the classes under which your trade mark should be registered, you should first draft a specification of goods and/or services. This describes the goods or services for which you are using the mark. It needs to be sufficiently clear and precise and cover not only products of immediate interest, but also those which are intended to be of future interest.

To identify which category your goods or services belong to, you should take into account:

• the function and purpose of the goods and or services

• whether the goods consist of any raw materials

• what activities are involved in the service, and

• the class to which the subject matter of the advice corresponds when information services are being considered

The Trade Mark Act 1994 allows you to specify territorial and other limitations, such as waiving the right to the exclusive use of any part of the mark. In some cases, those limitations can increase the chances of success of the application.

It is not in the interest of a brand owner to make the specification so broad, so as to cover goods that the business does not, in reality, anticipate to market, since this would risk the mark becoming vulnerable to an attack post-registration. The application must be supported by a statement that the mark is in use in relation to the relevant goods and services, or that the applicant has a genuine intention to use the mark in such a way.

You can use the government's search UK trade mark classes service to search for and classify the goods and/or service classes you need to register your trade mark.

For more information, see the government's guidance.

If you are using your mark for a class of goods or services that it is not registered for, you could unwittingly be infringing someone else’s registered trade mark. In addition, a competitor could register a similar mark in the class you should have registered under, thereby giving them trade mark rights in a class that is superior to yours.

If you register your trade mark in the wrong class, you cannot switch to another one later. Therefore, it is important to register your mark in the correct class from the start.

Your application must be supported by a statement that the mark is in use in relation to the relevant goods and services, or that you have a genuine intention to use the mark in the way you have specified.

When you make an application to register your trade mark, the cost of this application includes one trade mark class. If you wish to register your trade mark under different classes, you will need to pay an additional £50 per class.

Note that you only pay for the class, not the number of terms you select within each class.

For more information on registering your trade mark, read How to register a trade mark.

If a third party uses one of your registered trade marks within your specified class, you may want to consider using a Cease and desist letter to attempt to bring an end to the activity. If the matter is more complicated, you can always Ask a lawyer for advice.