The eleventh edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification) entered into force on January 1, 2017.
The new edition, which would apply to applications filed on or after January 1, 2017, includes amendments to fifteen class headings, list of goods and services as well as explanatory notes for classes 5, 11, 29, 30, 35, 42 and 44. The new version introduces 334 new terms, reclassifies 19 and 25 terms are dropped out of the list. The most notable changes involve Class 21.
It is important to note that in order to be included in the application all the goods and services in the alphabetical list of the particular class should the class headings in the application match those of the 11th edition of 2017.
What is the Nice Classification of goods and services?
The main function of the Nice Classification is to classify the goods and services for the purposes of the registration of marks. It consists of 34 classes of goods and 11 classes of services and includes a list of class headings and the alphabetical list of goods and services. The Nice Classification is regularly modified by a Committee of Experts. A new version is published annually and a new edition is published every five years.