Origin of the Nice Classification
The Nice Classification is based on a multilateral
treaty administered by WIPO. This treaty is called the Nice Agreement
Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services
for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks, which was concluded
in 1957. This Classification is commonly referred to as the Nice
Classification. The Nice Agreement is open to States party to
the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
How is it applied?
The trademark offices of the contracting States
of the Nice Agreement are required to include in the official
documents and publications the numbers of the classes of goods
and/or services.
Advantages and uniqueness of the Nice Classification
Use of the Nice Classification by national offices
has the advantage of filing applications with reference to a single
classification system. The preparation of applications is thereby
greatly simplified, as the goods and services to which a given
mark applies will be classified in the same way in all countries
that have adopted it. Furthermore, the fact that the Nice Classification
exists in several languages saves applicants a considerable amount
of work when they have to file a list of goods and services in
a language other than that of the country of origin of the mark.
Is it used in many countries?
In January 2002, 68 States were party to the Nice
Agreement. They have adopted and apply the Nice Classification
for the purposes of the registration of marks. Moreover, the trademark
offices of 71 countries, three organizations and the International
Bureau of WIPO actually use the Nice Classification.
What is the structure of the Nice Classification?
The Nice Classification comprises the Class Headings
accompanied by Explanatory Notes and an Alphabetical List of Goods
and Services, with the class in which each product or service
is placed. The Class Headings describe in very broad terms the
nature of the goods or services contained in each of the 34 classes
of goods and 11 classes of services. They are accompanied, where
appropriate, by Explanatory Notes which describe in greater detail
the type of product or service included in the classes concerned.
The Alphabetical List is a list of goods and services set out
in alphabetical order. It comprises about 10,000 indications referring
to goods and 1,000 indications referring to services.
Is it updated?
In order to keep the Nice Classification up to
date, it is continuously revised and a new edition is published
every five years. The current (eighth) edition has been in force
since January 1, 2002. The revision is carried out by a Committee
of Experts set under the Nice Agreement. All States party to the
Agreement are members of the Committee of Experts.
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