International (Nice) Classification of Goods and Services
International Classification of Goods and Services also known as the Nice Classification was established by the Nice Agreement (1957), is a system of classifying goods and services for the purpose of registering trademarks. It is updated every five years and its latest 11th version of the system groups products into 45 classes (classes 1-34 include goods and classes 35-45 embrace services), and allows users seeking to trademark a good or service to choose from these classes as appropriate. Since the system is recognized in numerous countries, this makes applying for trademarks internationally a more streamlined process. The classification system is specified by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). History of the Nice Classification The Nice Classification is based on a multilateral treaty administered by WIPO. This treaty, consummated on 15 June 1957 in Nice, France, is called the "Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks". This Classification is commonly referred to as the "Nice Classification". The Nice Agreement is open to states who are parties to the "Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property". Contracting states The following is a list of states with their date of accession and ratification. Albania (2003) Algeria (1972) Argentina (2007) Armenia (2004) Australia (1972) Austria (1973) Azerbaijan (2003) Bahrain (2005) Barbados (1984) Belarus (1998) Belgium (1974) Benin (1978) Bosnia and Herzegovina (1993) Bulgaria (2000) Canada (2019) Chile China (1994) Croatia (1992) Cuba (1995) Czech Republic (1970) Democratic People's Republic of Korea (1997) Denmark (1970) Dominica (2000) Egypt (2005) Estonia (1996) Finland (1973) France () Georgia (2002) Germany (1970) Greece () Guinea (1996) Hungary (1970) Iceland (1995) Ireland (1968) Israel (1969) India (2019) Italy (1977) Jamaica (2005) Japan (1989) Kazakhstan (2002) Kyrgyzstan (1998) Latvia (1994) Lebanon () Liechtenstein (1972) Lithuania (1996) Luxembourg (1974) Malawi (1995) Malaysia (2007) Mexico (2000) Moldova (1997) Monaco (1975) Mongolia (2001) Montenegro (2006) Morocco (1975) Mozambique (2001) Netherlands (1979) New Zealand (2013) Norway (1970) Paraguay (2021) Peru (2022) Philippines () Poland (1996) Portugal (1982) Republic of Korea (1998) Republic of Macedonia (1993); Romania (1998) Russian Federation (1992) Saint Kitts and Nevis (2005) Saint Lucia (2000) Saudi Arabia (2021) Serbia (2006) Singapore (1998) Sint Maarten () Slovakia (1993) Slovenia (1992) Spain (1979) Suriname (1981) Sweden (1969) Switzerland (1970) Syrian Arab Republic (2004) Tajikistan (1994) Trinidad and Tobago (1995) Tunisia () Turkey (1995) Turkmenistan (2006) Ukraine (2000) United Arab Emirates (2022) United Kingdom (1979) United Republic of Tanzania (1999) United States of America (1972) Uruguay (1999) Uzbekistan (2001) Application The trademark offices of the nations signatory to the Nice Agreement agree to employ the designated classification codes in their official documents and publications. Advantages and uniqueness of the Nice Classification Use of the Nice Classification by national offices has the advantage that trademark applications are coordinated with reference to a single classification system. Filing is thereby greatly simplified, as the goods and services to which a given mark applies will be classified the same in all countries that have adopted the