As of January 1st, the 13th Edition of the Nice Classification entered into force, introducing changes that affect how goods and services are classified for trademark registration. These updates include transfers between classes, as well as the addition and deletion of products and services.
Main Changes
- Optical products, such as prescription and sunglasses, contact lenses, eyeglass cords, and cases, move from Class 9 to Class 10.
- Firefighting vehicles and fireboats, liferafts and lifeboats, and evacuation chairs move from Class 9 to Class 12.
- Electrically heated garments and socks move from Class 11 to Class 25.
- Products incorporating integrated technology will no longer be automatically classified in Class 9. Instead, classification will depend on the product’s primary function. For example, a smart refrigerator falls under Class 11, while a smart toy belongs in Class 28.
- Essential oils are redistributed according to their intended use: Class 1 (industrial use), Class 3 (cosmetic use), Class 5 (therapeutic use), and Class 29 (food use).
- Other class changes include tongue scrapers (Class 10 → 21), irrigation hose nozzles (Class 21 → 17), sea kayaks (Class 28 → 12), and buttercream (Class 29 → 30).
In addition to class transfers, the new edition of the Nice Classification incorporates new products and services, reflecting market developments and technological innovation. Among others : (i) nicotine preparations for smoking cessation (Class 5), (ii) mouth guards for bruxism (Class 10), (iii) subscription services to multimedia content for third parties (Class 35), (iv) rental of delivery robots (Class 39), and (v) artificial intelligence as a service (AIaaS) (Class 42).
Considering these changes, for both new trademark filings and renewals, and also opposition proceedings, a careful review of the updated classification will be essential to ensure trademark protection aligned with each business’s actual activities and needs.
If you need assistance with trademark registration or portfolio management, please contact us at info@lermanszlak.com.
