What the Nice Classification (MKTU) is
The Nice Classification (MKTU — International Classification of Goods and Services) is a system that divides all goods and services into 45 classes. Classes 1-34 cover goods, and classes 35-45 cover services.
When registering a trademark, you must specify which classes of goods and services you want to obtain protection for.
Important: A mark is protected only in the classes listed on the certificate. If you make clothing (class 25) but did not specify class 35 (retail sale), someone else could register the same mark for selling clothing.
Popular classes for business
Goods:
- Class 3 — cosmetics, perfumery, hygiene products
- Class 5 — pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, medical devices
- Class 9 — electronics, software, apps
- Class 25 — clothing, footwear, headwear
- Class 29 — meat, dairy products, preserves
- Class 30 — coffee, tea, confectionery, baked goods
- Class 32 — beer, non-alcoholic beverages, juices
- Class 33 — alcoholic beverages (except beer)
Services:
- Class 35 — advertising, marketing, retail sale, business management
- Class 36 — financial services, insurance, real estate
- Class 41 — education, entertainment, sports
- Class 42 — IT services, software development, scientific research
- Class 43 — food service, restaurants, cafés, hotels
- Class 44 — medical services, veterinary services, beauty salons
- Class 45 — legal services, security services
How to choose classes
- Identify your current activity — which goods you make or services you provide now
- Think about growth — which areas you plan to develop in the coming years
- Consider related classes — for example, a coffee shop needs both class 30 (coffee) and class 43 (food service)
- Protect your sales — class 35 is relevant for almost any business
Tip: Don't cut corners on classes. The cost of adding a class during registration is much lower than filing a new application later.
Registration cost by classes
The state fee is calculated based on the number of classes:
- Up to 5 classes — base rate
- Each additional class — an extra charge of about 1 000 ₽ at the filing stage and 1 000 ₽ at the registration stage
Common mistakes
- Too few classes — the mark does not protect all areas of the business
- Wrong classes — for example, specifying class 9 (software) instead of class 42 (software development)
- Ignoring class 35 — without it you cannot protect the use of the mark in advertising and trade