The Nice Classification is the international classification system of goods and services for trademark registration, named after the agreement concluded in Nice, France, in 1957. It divides all goods and services into 45 classes: Classes 1–34 cover goods, and Classes 35–45 cover services. It is the common classification standard for trademark registration in the vast majority of countries.
Origin and Role of the Nice Classification
- Established by the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks, it is maintained and periodically revised by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), with a new edition every year.
- China is a member of the Nice Agreement, and trademark application, examination, and publication all take the Nice Classification as the basic framework.
- A unified classification enables trademark registration information of different countries to be searched and compared against one another — the common language of international trademark affairs.
Basic Structure
- Classes: 45 classes in total, each with a general class heading — for example, Class 30 covers convenience foods such as coffee, tea, pastries, and condiments.
- Similar groups: each class is divided into several groups, the basic units for judging similarity of goods.
- Goods items: under each group are the specific names of goods or service items, which must be filed under their standard names when applying for registration.
Relationship with China's Classification Table
Based on the Nice Classification, the CNIPA compiles the Classification Table of Similar Goods and Services, adjusting similarity judgments in light of China's examination practice; it is the direct basis for domestic trademark filing and similarity examination. Goods items should in principle be selected from the table's standard names; non-standard items may be filed, but carry higher risks of a prolonged examination cycle and correction notices.
Practical Tips
- Class headings are only summaries and cannot be relied on alone: computers are in Class 9, while computer software services are in Class 42.
- The Nice Classification is revised annually, and individual items may migrate between classes; filings should follow the latest edition.
- Cross-class searching of similar groups is not uncommon; when selecting classes, conduct similarity searches in light of the business rather than looking only at your home class.
If you are unsure about the above issues, you may first run a trademark registrability assessment on MyTMBee and act after obtaining analysis from a CNIPA-recorded trademark agent.