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India follows the international Nice Classification system, which divides all goods and services into 45 classes. Choosing the right class is one of the most critical decisions in your trademark registration. The wrong class means your protection won't cover your actual business activities.
Why Trademark Classes Matter
Trademark protection is class-specific:
- A trademark registered in Class 25 only protects clothing brands
- The same name can be registered by different parties in different classes
- Filing in the wrong class leaves your actual business unprotected
- Famous example: "Apple" trademark exists in Class 9 (electronics) by Apple Inc. and Class 41 (music) by Apple Corps separately
⚠️ Important: Choosing the wrong trademark class is one of the most expensive mistakes in IP registration. Always verify your class with experts before filing.
Goods Classes (1-34)
Class 1 — Chemicals
Industrial chemicals, fertilizers, plastics raw materials, adhesives, photographic chemicals.
Examples: BASF, Tata Chemicals, Pidilite Industries
Class 2 — Paints & Coatings
Paints, varnishes, lacquers, dyes, anti-rust preparations, raw natural resins.
Examples: Asian Paints, Berger, Nerolac
Class 3 — Cosmetics & Cleaning ⭐
Cosmetics, soaps, perfumes, toothpastes, skincare, hair care, cleaning products.
Examples: Lakme, Himalaya, Patanjali, Dove, Lux
Class 4 — Fuels & Lubricants
Industrial oils, lubricants, fuels (petrol, diesel), candles, wicks for lighting.
Examples: HPCL, BPCL, Castrol, Mobil, Servo
Class 5 — Pharmaceuticals ⭐
Medicines, pharmaceutical preparations, supplements, sanitary products, veterinary products.
Examples: Sun Pharma, Cipla, Dr. Reddy's, Lupin
Class 6 — Metals & Hardware
Common metals, alloys, building materials in metal, iron goods, pipes, cables.
Examples: Tata Steel, JSW, Jindal, SAIL
Class 7 — Machinery
Machines, machine tools, electric motors, agricultural implements (non-hand-operated).
Examples: Bharat Forge, L&T, Kirloskar
Class 8 — Hand Tools
Hand tools, cutlery, side arms, razors, blades, manual implements.
Examples: Stanley, Taparia, Bosch (hand tools)
Class 9 — Electronics & Software ⭐
Scientific instruments, computers, smartphones, software, mobile apps, electronic devices, recordings.
Examples: Samsung, Apple, TCS, Infosys, Sony
Class 10 — Medical Devices
Surgical, medical, dental, veterinary instruments and equipment.
Examples: Stryker, Medtronic, Skanray
Class 11 — Lighting & Appliances
Lighting, heating, cooling apparatus, sanitary fixtures, refrigeration equipment.
Examples: Havells, Philips, Crompton, Bajaj Electricals
Class 12 — Vehicles
Vehicles for transportation by land, air, water — cars, bikes, trucks, ships, aircraft.
Examples: Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki, Hero MotoCorp, Mahindra
Class 13 — Firearms & Fireworks
Firearms, ammunition, explosives, fireworks.
Class 14 — Jewellery & Watches
Precious metals, gemstones, jewellery, watches, clocks.
Examples: Tanishq, Titan, Malabar Gold, Kalyan Jewellers
Class 15 — Musical Instruments
All musical instruments — string, wind, percussion, electronic.
Examples: Yamaha, Casio
Class 16 — Paper & Stationery
Paper, books, stationery, magazines, photographs, printed matter.
Examples: Camlin, Classmate, Reynolds, Cello
Class 17 — Rubber & Plastics
Rubber, plastics (semi-finished), packing materials, hoses, insulation.
Examples: MRF, Apollo Tyres, Supreme Industries
Class 18 — Leather & Bags
Leather goods, bags, wallets, luggage, umbrellas, walking sticks.
Examples: Hidesign, VIP, Lavie, American Tourister
Class 19 — Building Materials
Non-metallic building materials, asphalt, bitumen, transportable buildings.
Examples: UltraTech, ACC, Ambuja Cement
Class 20 — Furniture
Furniture, mirrors, picture frames, goods of wood/cork/cane.
Examples: Godrej Interio, Durian, Damro, IKEA
Class 21 — Kitchenware
Household utensils, kitchen equipment, glassware, porcelain, pottery.
Examples: Prestige, Hawkins, Borosil, Milton
Class 22 — Ropes & Fibres
Ropes, nets, tents, awnings, sacks, raw fibrous textile materials.
Class 23 — Yarns & Threads
Yarns, threads for textile use.
Examples: Madura Coats, Vardhman
Class 24 — Textiles & Fabrics
Fabrics, textiles, household linen, curtains, bedding.
Examples: Raymond, Arvind, Welspun, Bombay Dyeing
Class 25 — Clothing & Apparel ⭐⭐⭐
Clothing, footwear, headgear — most popular class for fashion brands.
Examples: Allen Solly, Peter England, Jockey, Zara, Levi's
Class 26 — Lace & Embroidery
Lace, embroidery, ribbons, buttons, pins, needles, artificial flowers.
Class 27 — Carpets & Flooring
Carpets, rugs, mats, linoleum, wall coverings (non-textile).
Examples: Welspun (carpets)
Class 28 — Toys & Games
Games, toys, sporting goods, gym equipment.
Examples: Funskool, Hamleys, Fitness World
Class 29 — Meat & Dairy ⭐
Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy, edible oils, processed fruits/vegetables.
Examples: Amul, Mother Dairy, Britannia
Class 30 — Staple Foods ⭐⭐
Coffee, tea, rice, flour, bread, spices, condiments, ready-to-eat foods.
Examples: Tata Tea, Bru, MDH, Maggi, Patanjali (foods)
Class 31 — Agricultural Products
Raw agricultural produce, live animals, seeds, plants, flowers.
Examples: Mahindra Agri, Kaveri Seeds
Class 32 — Beverages ⭐
Non-alcoholic beverages, beer, mineral water, juices, energy drinks.
Examples: Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Bisleri, Red Bull
Class 33 — Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic beverages except beer — wines, spirits, liquors.
Examples: United Spirits, Sula Vineyards
Class 34 — Tobacco
Tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, smokers' articles, matches.
Examples: ITC, Godfrey Phillips
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Register Trademark →Services Classes (35-45)
Class 35 — Advertising & Business Services ⭐⭐⭐ (Most Popular!)
Advertising, marketing, business management, retail, wholesale, e-commerce, HR, accounting.
Examples: Amazon, Flipkart, Ogilvy, KPMG, Deloitte
Class 36 — Finance & Insurance ⭐
Banking, financial services, insurance, real estate, investment, mutual funds.
Examples: HDFC, LIC, SBI, ICICI, Bajaj Finserv
Class 37 — Construction & Repair
Building construction, repair, installation, renovation services.
Examples: L&T, DLF, Godrej Properties
Class 38 — Telecommunications
Telecom services, internet, broadband, broadcasting, mobile networks.
Examples: Jio, Airtel, Vi, BSNL
Class 39 — Transport & Storage
Transportation, packaging, storage, travel, logistics, courier.
Examples: Blue Dart, Delhivery, DTDC, Indigo (airline)
Class 40 — Material Treatment
Treatment of materials, manufacturing services, printing, recycling.
Class 41 — Education & Entertainment ⭐⭐
Education, training, coaching, entertainment, sports, cultural activities.
Examples: BYJU'S, Unacademy, Allen, IPL
Class 42 — IT & Technology Services ⭐⭐
IT services, software development, scientific research, design services, cloud computing.
Examples: Infosys, Wipro, HCL, TCS
Class 43 — Food & Restaurant ⭐⭐⭐
Restaurant services, hotels, catering, accommodation, cafes, food delivery.
Examples: Taj Hotels, Zomato, Swiggy, Domino's
Class 44 — Medical & Beauty
Medical services, hospitals, beauty salons, spa, veterinary.
Examples: Apollo Hospitals, Fortis, Lakme Salon, Habibs
Class 45 — Legal & Security
Legal services, security, IP licensing, personal/social services.
Examples: Cyril Amarchand, AZB Partners, ipRIGHTS.in
The 8 Most Popular Trademark Classes in India
| Rank | Class | Why Popular |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Class 35 (Advertising/Business) | Almost every business needs it |
| 2 | Class 25 (Clothing) | Booming fashion industry |
| 3 | Class 9 (Electronics/Software) | Tech industry growth |
| 4 | Class 30 (Foods) | FMCG dominance |
| 5 | Class 43 (Restaurants) | F&B explosion |
| 6 | Class 5 (Pharma) | Pharma manufacturing hub |
| 7 | Class 41 (Education) | EdTech boom |
| 8 | Class 42 (IT Services) | India's IT export strength |
Multi-Class Strategy
Many businesses need protection in multiple classes. Examples:
- Restaurant chain selling packaged food: Class 43 (services) + Class 30 (food products)
- Software company with mobile app: Class 9 (software) + Class 42 (IT services)
- Fashion brand with online store: Class 25 (clothing) + Class 35 (retail)
- Coaching institute selling books: Class 41 (education) + Class 16 (books)
- Hotel chain selling food products: Class 43 (hotel) + Class 29 + 30 (food)
How to Choose the Right Trademark Class
- Identify what you sell or provide — Be specific
- Map to relevant classes — Use the descriptions above
- Consider future expansion — File now in classes you'll grow into
- Account for products AND services — Many businesses need both
- Get expert advice — Class selection mistakes are expensive
💡 Pro Tip: Class 35 is often called "the catch-all class" because it covers retail, wholesale, advertising, and online sales — making it relevant for nearly every business with a commercial element.
Conclusion
The 45 trademark classes form the framework of trademark protection in India. Choosing correctly is critical. When in doubt, consult experts who can analyze your business and recommend the optimal class combination.