Why classes exist
Trademark offices around the world sort commercial goods and services into categories called classes. When you file to protect your brand, you choose the class or classes that fit what your business actually does.
The Nice Classification
The Nice International Classification sets out 45 standardized classes: 34 cover goods and 11 cover services. Together they cover all known products and services.
One mark, several classes
If your business spans different areas, you can register the same trademark in more than one class. For example, you could register the mark KING for computers and also for cosmetics, with each registration filed in the class that matches those goods.
What protection covers
Your protection applies only to commercial use within the classes you select. This means two different businesses can use the same or similar trademarks, as long as they operate in different classes. Each one is fully protected in its own classes. If you want coverage in more than one class, simply include all the relevant classes in your application.
Finding your class
Not sure which class fits? Try the Trademark Class Search tool to find it.