What is an identification of goods and services?

An identification of goods and services is the description in a trademark application that explains the products or services associated with the 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.