Trade mark classification in the UK
The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO) is using the 10th edition of the International Classification of goods and services (Nice Classification) to classify trade mark applications submitted from 1 January 2012. The Nice Classification is an international classification of goods and services used when applying for the registration of trade marks and service marks.
Trade mark applications filed prior to 1 January 2012 will not be reclassified and applications filed before this date will also not be reclassified on renewal.
The main changes concern the addition of some goods and services to the existing classes, and the transfer of some goods and services between the existing classes. In particular, dietary and nutritional supplements are now classified in class 5 (previously classes 29 and 30), nappies will now fall in class 5 (previously 16 and 25), and game consoles of all types now fall in class 28 (previously certain consoles were in class 9). A number of electrical items previously classified in the very broad class 9 have also been transferred to different classes.
