Any firm that wants to develop a strong brand must register a trademark. The beneficiary gains a number of advantages when a mark is registered in a specific Trademark Classes. Not only does this grant you exclusive rights to the mark, but it also facilitates brand expansion for enterprises.

Therefore, choosing the appropriate Trademark Classes and having a solid grasp of them is essential for any organization. The majority of business owners today rely on third-party service providers to browse the list of Trademark Classes and submit applications on their behalf. The various Trademark Classes and the procedure for trademark registration will be discussed in this article.

What is a Trademark?

A trademark is essentially any image, phrase, or symbol that aids consumers in distinguishing between goods and services. A trademark registration grants its owner the only right to use any name, symbol^[1], visual representation, or mark that distinguishes a certain good or service from those of the competition. As a result, trademark registration is essential to a company’s success because it aids in branding and marketing. Without a registered trademark, other businesses may misappropriate a company’s name or logo, which could cause issues. However, a registered trademark aids in preventing such misuse of a company’s name, logo, or brand.

Advantages of Trademark

The following are the advantages of a Trademark:

1.  Aids in safeguarding a company’s brand or emblem from exploitation and misappropriation

2.  Enables businesses to advertise and promote themselves freely

3.  Gives the proprietor of a business legal rights over their mark

4.  Helps to produce intellectual property, which is an intangible asset

5.  Enables companies to increase their trust and goodwill

6.  Enables business owners to bring a civil or criminal prosecution in the event of infringement by a third party.

7.  Enables the expansion into new markets and market sectors

Different types of Trademark Classes

Depending on the type of commodity or service for which the applicant is attempting to register a mark, there are many trademark classifications. There are 45 distinct Trademark Classes in India, according to the Trademark Act. These classes enable applicants to register trademarks quickly and easily while also assisting them in avoiding future trademark objections. There are 45 different Trademark Classes available, 34 of which are for products, while the remaining 11 are for service marks.

A trademark application can be submitted under one class or numerous classes that relate to the good or service being offered. They must submit Form TM-1 if they choose to file under a certain trademark class. However, applicants must submit Form TM-A when applying for a collective trademark.

1.  Trademark Class 1 for Chemicals

2.  Trademark Class 2 for Paints

3.  Trademark Class 3 for Cosmetics and cleaning solutions

4.  Trademark Class 4 for Lubricants and fuels

5.  Trademark Class 5 for Pharmaceuticals

6.  Trademark Class 6 for Metal goods

7.  Trademark Class 7 for Machinery

8.  Trademark Class 8 for Hand tools

9.  Trademark Class 9 for Electrical apparatus

10.  Trademark Class 10 for Medical Apparatus

11.  Trademark Class 11 for Environmental control apparatus

12.  Trademark Class 12 for Vehicles

13.  Trademark Class 13 for Firearms

14.  Trademark Class 14 for Jewellery

15.  Trademark Class 15 for Musical instruments

16.  Trademark Class 16 for Paper goods

17.  Trademark Class 17 for Rubber goods

18.  Trademark Class 18 for Leather goods

19.  Trademark Class 19 for Non-metallic building materials

20.  Trademark Class 20 for Furniture and other unclassified articles

21.  Trademark Class 21 for Housewares and glass objects

22.  Trademark Class 22 for Cordage and fibres

23.  Trademark Class 23 for Yarns and threads

24.  Trademark Class 24 for Fabrics

25.  Trademark Class 25 for Clothing

26.  Trademark Class 26 for Fancy goods

27.  Trademark Class 27 for Floor coverings

28.  Trademark Class 28 for Toys and sporting goods

29.  Trademark Class 29 for Meats and processed foods

30.  Trademark Class 30 for Staple foods

31.  Trademark Class 31 for Natural agricultural products

32.  Trademark Class 32 for Light beverages

33.  Trademark Class 33 for Wines and spirits

34.  Trademark Class 34 for Smoking articles

35.  Trademark Class 35 for Advertising and business

36.  Trademark Class 36 for Insurance and financial

37.  Trademark Class 37 for Building, construction and repair

38.  Trademark Class 38 – Telecommunication

39.  Trademark Class 39 – Transportation and storage

40.  Trademark Class 40 – Treatment of materials

41.  Trademark Class 41 – Education and Entertainment

42.  Trademark Class 42 – Legal, scientific, and computer services

43.  Trademark Class 43 – Hotels and restaurants

Things you should know before selecting Trademark

The following are some of the points that must be kept in mind while selecting a trademark:

·         To have the most impact on consumers’ thoughts, trademarks need to be easily remembered, straightforward, and unambiguous. Therefore, avoid using long, convoluted words that are hard to spell and recall, and always go for short, concise words and names.

·         Make sure to come up with original and sincere titles for your company to prevent trademark infringement. Never imitate a name or logo from a more well-known company as this may result in legal problems.

·         Avoid registering trademarks for proper nouns and place names since no one can own exclusive rights to such widely used words.

Any of the following items may be the subject of a trademark application:

·         A symbol, a letter, or any combination of these

·         Audible markings

·         Fancy sign or term that the business owner has created

·         3-dimensional symbols or signals

·         Symbols and visual designs

·         Monograms

·         Many colour and its colour combinations

Conclusion – Trademark Classes

Choosing which Trademark Classes to register your trademark under can be challenging. The first stage in determining your class is to create a specification, such as a list of the goods or services for which you are using or intend to use the mark. Both products intended for future interest and those designed for present interest must be listed in the specification. It must be as precise and lucid as is practical. Seek professional advice to get a better idea for Trademark Classes. You can also reach Bizadvisors.io for more information.

Read our article:All You Need to Know about Trademark Class 35