International (Nice) Classification of Goods and Services
The international trademark classification ( called the Nice Classification) is an international agreement on the classification of goods and services for the registration of a trademark. It is administered by WIPO and used in more than 140 countries worldwide.
Objective
With the brand classification, the stressed regions (classes) of goods or services to be determined, for which one can obtain protection for a name, a word, image, character, etc.. It consists of 45 classes.
It is possible that different applicants (eg tempo) can be the same word mark register, as long as this is done in different classes. 'd However, please note that different classes can contain similar goods or services, so that hurt a registration prior rights (eg software in class 09 and programming services in class 42).
History
The brand classification was adopted internationally on June 15, 1957 in Nice, the Nice Agreement concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the registration of marks and is therefore also called the Nice Classification.
Since then, it is re- issued every five years in a revised version. To keep pace with the social and technical development section will also publishes Since 2013 annual " versions " that may provide new concepts or deletions of existing terms. However, larger structural changes (such as class changes, creating new classes, cancellation of existing classes ) will remain the every five years, appearing " expenditure" reserved. On 1 January 2012, the 10th edition of the Nice Classification is in force; since 1 January 2014, the "Version 2014" the 10th edition cited applies.
Classification
The division of classes according to § 19 paragraph 1 of the Trade Mark Regulation, the 9th edition of the Nice Classification have been changed in the 10th Edition. The previously existing classification rules have been completely revised, new concepts introduced or deleted and assignments to the categories have been changed.