What Will You Use Your Trademark For?
Your trademark must be registered in relation to the specific goods and/or services your business offers. This is important because it defines the areas where your trademark protects your brand. Goods and services are divided into “classes” that cover different business activities, such as “software” (class 9), “clothing” (class 25), “plumbing” (class 37), and “accounting” (class 35).
Why Registering in the Correct Classes Matters?
Selecting the right classes is crucial because your trademark only protects your brand in the specific areas you register. If you select the wrong class or miss relevant ones, your trademark won’t protect your brand where it matters, leaving you open to competitors using similar names in those areas.
Example:
Let’s say you own a fitness brand that sells activewear, offers a fitness app, and provides online coaching services. You would need to register in multiple classes:
- Class 25: For “fitness apparel” like leggings, tops, and sportswear.
- Class 28: For any “sports equipment” you might sell, such as resistance bands or yoga mats.
- Class 9: For your “fitness app” if it includes software for workouts or tracking progress.
Missing any of these classes could mean your brand isn’t fully protected in key areas of your business. For instance, if you forget to include class 9 for your app, your trademark won’t cover the digital side of your brand.
How to Select Your Goods and Services?
Use the search bar to enter the goods and/or services your business provides.
Select the items that best match your offerings. You can pick multiple items within the same class without additional costs, but extra classes may incur extra government fees.
Review your choices in the sidebar to ensure your trademark application fully reflects what your business does.
Choosing the correct classes from the start ensures your trademark protection is comprehensive – so review carefully.
