The aim of these articles is to keep our Clients and Associates updated about developments in the sector of Intellectual Property in general and our firm in particular. In this way, we wish to provide a broader view of the tools that the field of trade marks, domain names, patents, designs and related rights offers to entrepreneurs to enhance and protect their efforts in researching and developing new solutions and ideas.
New Nice Classification
The 13th edition of the Nice International Classification of Goods and Services will come into force on 1 January 2026.
The main changes include updating the terms for products and services, particularly those related to digital technology such as NFTs and metaverses, and adjusting other categories.
The changes mainly concern the following classes:
- Class 9: Items such as “glasses”, “sunglasses”, and “contact lenses ” will migrate to Class 10.
- Class 12: It will include certain emergency vehicles (ambulances, fire engines, life rafts), which were previously included in Class 09.
- Class 42: Restructuring of cloud software services, reflecting technological and regulatory evolution in the IT sector.
- Class 35: Updates to online sales services, including more modern regulations and clearer criteria for e-commerce.
These changes aim to modernize the Classification, adapting it to new market needs and technological innovations, with greater precision and clarity in the definitions for each class.
The changes do not apply retroactively, however, trademark owners are advised to check whether these changes may impact the classes most important to their business.