WIPO: 11th Edition of the Nice Classification
The 11th Edition of the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice Classification) will come into force on January 1, 2017.
Amendments reflected in the new edition cover fifteen class headings and Explanatory Notes for seven classes. Besides, the list of goods and services will be extended by several new items. Most amendments were initiated by a joint proposal of the IP Offices of Switzerland, the USA, Japan, the European Union, and WIPO and adopted by the Committee of Experts of the Nice Union with minor changes.
The 11th Edition will be applied to all international trademark applications and registrations received by an Office of Origin on and after January 1, 2017. However, if a renewal or a request for any other changes in relation to an international registration is filed with WIPO after December 31, 2016, the list of goods and services of the international registration will not be subject to reclassification under the 11th Edition.
It is worth mentioning that the prevailing majority of the world’s Trademark Offices applies the Nice Classification to national applications as well. Thus, Australian and Canadian Intellectual Property Offices have already informed of adoption of the new edition in 2017.
If you are interested in getting actual quotes for national trademark registration worldwide, please visit our quotation system.
Author: Lynda Miller