What on Earth are these “classes” all about?
The trade mark classification system is divided into 45 classes. Goods are numbered 1 - 34 and services are numbered 35 - 45. You can only stake your claim for specific goods and services by selecting one or more of the 45 classes. Don’t just think about what you do now, think about what you might do in future and apply for those classes too. You can’t add more classes once your trade mark is registered - be thorough.
None of the classes list my goods (or services). What the..?
We’ve taken the “class headings” offered by the trade mark registry, which is a summary view of all the sub-classes available (there are thousands). However, in the majority of cases, your goods and services should fit into one or more of these class headings. If not, you can delve deeper in your search by using this tool: TMclass.
I run an online social network, what class should I select?
Class 45, bet you didn’t guess that!
How long does a trade mark registration last for?
10 years. Then you’ll need to renew. Mark it in your diary.
How can I check if someone else has registered the name I want?
You can do your own UK search using this tool by the Intellectual Property Office. If you want to do an EU search then use this tool. This is an important step, so it might be worth getting some help from the pros. They’ll do this search for you, help you navigate your options and work with you to handle any objections raised to your trade mark. You can get free quotes from trade mark experts here.
What if someone has already registered the name I want?
Don’t sweat it (just yet). First, check to see if they’re pedalling the same goods or services - that is, they’ve registered the trade mark under the same classes. If they’re registered for different classes, you might still be able to register the trade mark for your own classes. For example “Orange” has been registered by three different people for mobile networks, guitar amps and mountain bikes respectively. However, it would be best to check with an expert because the law around this isn’t entirely straight forward.
