Theoretically, a brand is a distinctive sign of the company. In other words, it is a sign that distinguishes your product or service from your competitors. This distinctive sign can be a word, a logo, a slogan, a color, a number, a sound, a shape and so on. It may even be a combination of several of these elements.
Nice classification is the standard classification system used in the majority of countries around the world. This classification system defines 45 classes. Classes 1 to 34 cover the production of goods (commodities), while class 35 pertains to retail and store services, and classes 36 to 45 encompass services.
When you register your commercial trademark, you establish a monopoly over its use. You can renew the use of this trademark indefinitely, ensuring that you are the only person who can use it for a period of 10 years. Therefore, trademark owners can take legal action against those who decide to use their trademarks without permission and also against those who use a very similar signboard.
In general, Alkan Patent uses trademark classes to organize and evaluate goods and services, as well as compile a database that can be searched for registered and pending commercial trademarks. Each category of goods or services is assigned a number from 1 to 45 in these classifications, which are also known as international classes.
What is a Brand Class?
A brand cannot be protected in all existing business sectors. First, you should choose the products or services for which you want to register your brand. Whether it's a product or a service, you can choose one or more classes for your brand. Brand registration is done in specific classes for specific products or services.
A class is a product or service group that facilitates the identification and classification of relevant areas within the filing framework. There are 45 different classes that group similar goods and services, making up the NICE International Classification.
A classification system for the products and services offered by companies, the NICE International Classification, lists the classes of goods and services that applicants can choose from.
In accordance with the NICE agreement and within the scope of this agreement, the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office published a detailed notification on the classification of goods or services for trademark registration applications dated December 30, 2016, in the Official Gazette.
It has been adopted by most countries worldwide, but its interpretation varies greatly depending on the country, so it is crucial to work with Alkan Patent. Thanks to Alkan Patent's experience, all potential objections to the trademark can be foreseen and appropriate measures can be taken accordingly.
Classifying brands also facilitates searches for prior art and thus the verification of the existence of a mark. When conducting prior art searches with Alkan Patent, it is always recommended to provide the classes under which you plan to register your trademark and, when appropriate, to suggest relevant classes.
In this regard, it ensures that you have a comprehensive trademark without similarity or complementarity to what is foreseen in trademark registration processes. Making the correct application in trademark classes is the most important factor for the registration of the trademark and to ensure the smooth progress of the process.
During the selection of trademark classes, the products sold or services provided are also taken into consideration. Especially if there are different products or services planned for the future related to the brand, the selection of the trademark class should be made accordingly.
In each country, classification techniques for your brand are subject to a single agreement and encompass different interpretations. At this point, the trademark class is examined by Alkan Patent with the broadest scopes and appropriate procedures are applied.
Choose the correct classes in this regard. Some activities are very traditional, and trademark applicants can easily find their relevant class. Trademark classes are crucial in trademark registration application processes. However, trademark classes are designed to cover not only the areas in which the brand provides services or sells products but also the products or services planned for the future.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to seek assistance from a professional and expert team like Alkan Patent in selecting trademark classes. In this context, the right choices are made in trademark registration efforts and trademark class selections.
In general, trademark protection is directly tied to the specific wording used. Just as in many countries around the world, trademark protection in our country is also limited to the products and services referred to. Therefore, simply copying the expressions recommended by the patent and trademark office for this class is not sufficient for protecting all the products and services covered by this class.
The importance of comprehensive and relevant expressions stems from this. Thanks to the experience of Alkan Patent in this regard, one can achieve the most suitable trademark registration with a personalized expression and the selection of appropriate product and service classes. People often research where they can get the most suitable support for registering their trademark. At this point, the most suitable option is Alkan Patent.
The classification of goods ranges from Class 1 to 34, with stores and retail falling under Class 35. Services are categorized from Class 36 to 45. Below are some examples of these classifications:
In the realm of services, you can find the following:
Each field of activity has its own specific classification. In total, there are 45 classes, and the examples mentioned above represent only a few of them. Alkan Patent is well-versed in all these classifications and provides assistance to trademark owners. When conducting research on questions like 'How can I get help with my trademark application?' individuals should consider choosing Alkan Patent.
The products and services referred to in the application must be in line with the company's current activities and future projects. In fact, no additions can be made to a trademark that has already been applied for or registered at a later date. Therefore, it is important to plan all activities that will be conducted under this trademark in advance. In this regard, ALKAN PATENT plays a role in supporting its clients in fully protecting their intellectual property rights.
The pricing is done per class. Finding the correct classifications for a commercial trademark will provide the business owner with more legal protection and will also be cost-effective.
Goods are tangible. They consist of products that can be acquired for use or consumption. Services are abstract. These are actions provided by third parties that may require specific skills or resources. Trademark applications are made for specific goods or services. This means that even if an identical trademark has been previously filed, it can be accepted if an application is made in a different class.
Determining how goods and services are classified is an important part of the trademark process, and business owners cannot handle this on their own. In this regard, ALKAN PATENT, specialized in trademarks, would be the best choice. Within this scope, Alkan Patent conducts comprehensive analyses of these trademarks from every angle.
