Trade mark application process: What is a class of goods and services?

Before you file to register your trade mark, you are required to provide and identify the goods and/or services in which you wish to seek protection for your mark.  

These goods and services are divided into 45 classes which you can find using a classification system. Classes 1 – 34 are generally used for products, whereas classes 35 to 45 are used to identify services. Each class does not always include all that can be covered but will give you a general indication as to what it can cover.

It would be impossible to register your brand name for every single class because doing so would create a monopoly over your brand name and in essence, prevent other businesses from expanding.  As such, when applying to register your mark it is of paramount importance to decide exactly what goods or services will be involved within the nature of your business.

This is crucial because once you file your trade mark application, you will have to submit an entirely new application if you want to extend to other goods or services.

If your business requires you to register your mark in more than one class, this is possible, but will come at an additional cost.

What is important to ensure you are fully protected is to register your mark in the right classes. If you are unsure as to which class heading your business will fall under, check out the WIPO classification tool here.

If you have any questions relating to goods and services or the trade mark application process, why not contact the Trademarkroom today where we would be happy to assist you!

By Sena Tokel