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Garuda Legal.
Trademark
May 02, 20266 min readGaruda Legal IP Practice

Trademark Classes Explained: Which One Do You Need?

Confused about which of the 45 trademark classes applies to your business? This guide breaks down goods vs services classifications under the Nice Agreement.

1. The Nice Classification System

India follows the international Nice Classification system, which divides all goods and services into 45 distinct classes. Classes 1 to 34 cover tangible manufactured goods, while Classes 35 to 45 cover services.

2. Popular Classes for Tech & Digital Startups

Most modern businesses require multi-class registration to safeguard their brand identity completely.

  • Class 9: Software, mobile apps, SaaS downloadable algorithms, digital assets.
  • Class 35: Business management, advertising, e-commerce marketplaces, retail consultancy.
  • Class 42: Software development, cloud hosting, SaaS platforms, IT advisory.
  • Class 41: Education, training, publishing, entertainment media.

3. Conducting a Thorough TM Search

Before filing Form TM-A with the Trademark Registry, an exhaustive public search must be run across phonetically and visually similar existing trademarks to avoid section 9 or 11 objections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Need Professional Guidance?

Have questions about this compliance requirement? Our qualified CA/CS team is available for direct consultation.

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