When a person or business applies for trademark registration with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the applicant must specify at least one trademark class with which the trademark will be used and associated. For example, if a business manufactures paper products, like stationary and envelopes, then the applicant should probably select Class 16, which is for paper products.

There are many subcategories under each Class and, sometimes, selecting the correct Class and subcategory can be challenging. This is one reason it is essential to retain experienced trademark attorneys to handle your application. Take, for example, a number of products related to music. Class 15 is the typical Class for musical instruments. However, Class 28 is for musical toys, Class 14 is for musical jewelry boxes and Class 9 is for jukeboxes. Printed music sheets — being paper products — would fall under Class 16. Polish to keep instruments clean and shiny would be Class 3, but cleaning brushes would be Class 21. Typically, the correct Class depends on the use. Thus, a given metallic chemical substance might be Class 1 if used for scientific purposes, but Class 2 if used as an artist pigment or Class 3 if used as a polish or cleaner.

In total, there are 45 Classes, with the first 34 being dedicated to physical products. The final Classes are reserved for various types of services. For example, Class 41 is for trademarks used with respect to musical performances and Class 37 is for repair of musical instruments. Here is a quick rundown of the international trademark Classes with some examples:

• Class 1: Chemicals – basic chemicals used in science, industry, agriculture, etc.
• Class 2: Paints – includes varnishes, colorants and some pigments used for artists paints
• Class 3: Perfumes and personal hygiene – examples include soap, cosmetics, hand creams, shaving products, detergents and polishes and more
• Class 4: Fuels – gasoline, coal, fuel oil, wax, wood and more
• Class 5: Medical products – includes veterinary and sanitary products
• Class 6: Metal products – this Class is for worked metals like wrought iron, chains, various types of foil and metal sheeting and more
• Class 7: Machines and machine parts – engines, 3D printers and robots and more, but not hand-tools or vehicles
• Class 8: Hand tools – hammers, pliers and gardening tools are examples, but kitchen hand tools tend to fall under Class 21
• Class 9: Electric products — devices and equipment using electricity like computers; also includes parts like fuses and plugs
• Class 10: Medical devices – devices and equipment used for medical purposes, but not drugs, medication or other pharmaceuticals
• Class 11: Appliances – devices or equipment used for industrial or residential purposes like kitchen stoves/ovens, air-conditioning and more
• Class 12: Vehicles — planes, boats, cars, etc., and parts related to them
• Class 13: Firearms, fireworks and explosives – guns, ammunition and more
• Class 14: Jewelry – also includes precious metals and stones
• Class 15: Musical instruments
• Class 16: Paper products – also includes devices that hold paper like trays for paper and binder clips
• Class 17: Rubber and plastic products – tubes, hoses, seals and sealants and more, but not automobile tires which is Class 12
• Class 18: Leather – includes hides and fur
• Class 19: Non-metal building materials – like stone, wood and glass
• Class 20: Furniture – including parts like knobs and hinges
• Class 21: Household utensils – includes most kitchen tools, cooking items, glassware, dishes and more
• Class 22: Textiles and fibers – fabrics and cloth, rope, textiles, materials for ship building and more
• Class 23: Threads and yarns
• Class 24: Textile goods – things made from textiles, fibers, threads and yarns like bed linens, wall hangings and more
• Class 25: Clothing — includes nearly all items that are worn including shoes, hats and more; also includes clothing for pets and animals
• Class 26: Cloth finishing – includes accessories for clothes like ribbons, hooks, buttons and more
• Class 27: Floor coverings – rugs, mats, linoleum and more
• Class 28: Games and sporting goods – includes toys
• Class 29: Meat, dairy and nuts – one of two Classes related to foods for human consumption; includes seafood, fruits and vegetables
• Class 30: Bread, baking ingredients, coffee and tea — includes ingredients and processed non-meat food products
• Class 31: Natural agricultural goods – include raw food stuffs like unprocessed coffee beans, raw seaweed, live animals, plants, flowers, food for animals (like chicken feed and dog biscuits) and more
• Class 32: Beverages – non-alcoholic beverages
• Class 33: Alcoholic beverages – wine, beer, liquor and more
• Class 34: Tobacco and tobacco-related products — cigarettes, cigars, ashtrays and more
• Class 35: Advertising and business management services – services related to advertising, human resources, consulting and more
• Class 36: Insurance and financial Services – services related to tax preparation, insurance, real estate, banking and more
• Class 37: Repair, installation, construction and laundry services – includes vehicle maintenance/repair and mining and drilling
• Class 38: Telecommunication Services
• Class 39: Shipping and travel services
• Class 40: Treatment of materials services – includes a wide range of services involving transforming materials into another product like woodworking, blacksmithing, cloth dyeing and more, but food-related services are Class 43
• Class 41: Education and entertainment services – teaching, live musical performances and film production are examples
• Class 42: Science and technology services — computer coding is an example
• Class 43: Restaurant and hotel services – includes animal boarding
• Class 44: Healthcare, beauty and agricultural services – grooming and barber services, pet grooming and more
• Class 45: Personal, social, and security services – home security services, firefighting, legal services and more

For more information or if you have questions about creating and registering a trademark, contact the trademark lawyers at Revision Legal at 231-714-0100.