What is a trademark class?

A trademark class is a category used to organize goods and services in a trademark application. The USPTO uses trademark classes to identify the products or services associated with a trademark.

Trademark applications classify goods and services using the international Nice Classification system. There are 45 classes: Classes 1 through 34 generally cover goods, while Classes 35 through 45 generally cover services. A class is an administrative category; the legal scope of an application also depends on the exact identification of goods or services written within that class.

Choosing a class is not simply choosing the industry that sounds closest. The applicant must identify what is actually sold or provided under the mark. A single brand can require multiple classes when it is used for different types of products or services, and government filing fees are generally assessed per class.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is the federal agency responsible for examining U.S. trademark applications, issuing federal registrations, and maintaining official trademark records.

Example: Clothing is commonly in Class 25, while online retail store services are commonly in Class 35. A clothing company that both sells branded clothing and operates retail services may need to evaluate more than one class depending on how the mark is used.