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Nice Classification

TermPublished 2026-09-17 · Updated 2026-09-17

The Nice Classification is the international classification system of goods and services for trademark registration, dividing all goods and services into 45 classes; it is maintained by WIPO and revised annually.

The Nice Classification is a system for classifying goods and services for the purposes of trademark registration, established under the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks — named after Nice, France, where the agreement was concluded in 1957. It divides all goods and services into 45 classes and is the universal classification language of trademark registration worldwide; China's trademark application and examination are based on it.

History and Maintenance Mechanism

  • On June 15, 1957, the Nice Agreement was signed in Nice, France, establishing the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks.
  • The classification is revised by a Committee of Experts convened by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO); a new edition is released every year, with a more substantial revision roughly every five years.
  • The Nice Union now has dozens of member states; in addition, numerous non-member states as well as the Madrid System and regional organizations such as the European Union Intellectual Property Office also apply the Nice Classification, so its practical coverage extends to the vast majority of jurisdictions worldwide.
  • China acceded to the Nice Agreement in 1994, and the entire process of trademark application, examination, and publication adopts the Nice Classification framework.

Basic Structure

The Nice Classification adopts a three-tier structure:

  1. Classes: 45 in total. Classes 1–34 cover goods; Classes 35–45 cover services. Each class has a class heading and explanatory notes indicating what the class mainly includes and excludes.
  2. Groups: within each class, goods and services are subdivided into groups by function, purpose, raw materials, and similar logic. China's Classification Table of Similar Goods and Services further consolidates these groups into similar groups as the basic units for judging similarity.
  3. Goods/service items: under each group, specific names of goods or services are listed with internationally used serial numbers.

Overview of the Classes

  • Classes 1–5: chemicals; paints and varnishes; daily chemical products; industrial oils and fuels; pharmaceuticals.
  • Classes 6–15: metal materials; machinery; hand implements; electronic equipment; vehicles; firearms and fireworks; jewelry and watches; musical instruments and other industrial products.
  • Classes 16–21: paper goods and stationery; rubber goods; leather goods and luggage; building materials; furniture; household utensils.
  • Classes 22–28: ropes, nets, sacks, and tents; yarns; fabrics; clothing; haberdashery and lace; carpets and mats; games, toys, and sporting goods.
  • Classes 29–34: foods such as meat, eggs, and dairy; convenience foods and condiments; agricultural and forestry fresh produce; beer and beverages; alcoholic drinks; tobacco and smokers' articles.
  • Classes 35–45: advertising and business management; finance and insurance; construction and repair; telecommunications; transport and storage; material treatment; education and entertainment; scientific and technological services; food, drink, and accommodation; medical and horticultural services; legal and security services and other social services.

Application in China: The Classification Table

Based on the Nice Classification, the CNIPA compiles the Classification Table of Similar Goods and Services, which refines similarity relationships among similar groups in light of China's examination practice. Goods items should in principle be selected from the standard names in the table; filing non-standard names may result in correction notices or a prolonged examination cycle.

Practical Significance

  1. Basis of filing: trademark registration must designate goods or service items by class; one application may cover multiple classes.
  2. Boundary of rights: the scope of both the exclusive right and the right to prohibit is measured against the approved classes and similar goods.
  3. Search tool: prior-trademark searches and similarity judgments are indexed by classification.
  4. International interface: when seeking international registration through the Madrid System, the list of goods and services is likewise expressed in Nice Classification terms, and the standard of the domestic filing directly determines how smoothly international registration proceeds.

Points to Note

  • The Nice Classification is updated annually, and individual items may migrate between classes or be renamed; filings should follow the latest edition.
  • Class headings serve only as guidance; class scope must not be understood mechanically from the headings — the explanatory notes and items control.
  • Similarity does not fully coincide with classification: some goods are found similar across classes (e.g., cosmetics in Class 3 and certain medical preparations in Class 5), while goods in the same class may be dissimilar; the Classification Table and examination practice remain the ultimate references.

The practical judgment behind these concepts must be combined with individual cases; before proceeding, you may book a targeted analysis with a CNIPA-recorded trademark agent on MyTMBee.