trademark classes explained: how the nice classification works

India follows the international Nice Classification, which divides all goods and services into 45 classes. Classes 1–34 cover goods; classes 35–45 cover services. When you register a trademark, you protect it only within the class (or classes) you select.

Why class selection matters

Your rights are tied to the goods and services in your application. A clothing brand registered in Class 25 will not automatically be protected if someone uses the same name for, say, a restaurant in Class 43. Picking the correct class — and a precise specification within it — is therefore one of the most consequential decisions in the whole process.

Some commonly used classes

• Class 25 — clothing, footwear, headgear.
• Class 9 — software, apps, electronics.
• Class 35 — advertising, business, retail services.
• Class 41 — education, training, entertainment.
• Class 43 — restaurants and hospitality.
• Class 5 — pharmaceuticals.

Single-class vs multi-class applications

You can file in one class or several. Government fees are charged per class, so a business spanning multiple categories — for example a product plus its retail service — should budget accordingly. Filing too narrowly leaves gaps; filing too broadly wastes money. Sound advice here saves cost later.