Selection and classification of goods and services

When you apply for a trademark registration, you must state which goods and services (products) you plan to use the trademark for. This is called classification, as you need to associate your products with product classes. When the trademark is registered, your exclusive right to use the trademark will apply only to the goods and services you choose.

How to choose goods and services?

Some find it difficult to define which products they offer. It may help to ask yourself: What are you going to make money on/offer in the market? 

You cannot add more products after you have filed the application. Therefore, think carefully about which products you will use the trademark on, now and in the future. 

You can get help and suggestions by using our product selector. 

What are the competitors doing?

In our register, you can see which product classes others in the same business sector have chosen for their trademarks. For example, search for a company name, or a keyword from the business sector.

Are others free to use my trademark for other goods and services?

Yes, others can use and register the same trademark as you, as long as it concerns a completely different business sector so there is no risk of confusion.

What are classes?

All goods and services are placed into an international class system of 45 classes. The products are placed in a class based on the product's function, purpose and material. Accessories for an item often go in the same class as the item itself. Services are placed in different classes according to industries/business areas.

A product can be included in several classes if it has several purposes, is made of different materials or exists in both processed and unprocessed form.

Examples of products that belong to several classes

  • Protective gloves and normal gloves go in two different classes 
  • Metal ladders are in a different class than a wooden ladder 
  • Live fish belong in to a different class than a smoked fish 
Use our product selector to find the right class

Choice of class when selling and marketing yourown products

If you are going to sell your own goods or offer your own services, you only need to select the goods or service class the product belongs to, for example Class 25: "Clothing" or Class 44: "Beauty care". Sales and marketing of the goods and services are included in the exclusive right you get upon registration.

You therefore do not need "marketing and sales in class 35", unless you are going to sell other people's products or carry out marketing for other traders.

Which goods and services should I choose?

Young female jewelry designer making necklace and working at table in studio

Jewelry sales

If you are registering the name of a jewelry store where you sell both your own jewelry (with the same brand as the store) and jewelry from other manufacturers, it is appropriate to choose both:

  • Class 14: "Jewelry"
  • Class 35: "Sale of jewelry"
Close-up of a barista's hand pouring frothy milk into a coffee.

Run a café

If you are going to run a cafe and also sell a coffee blend with the same name, you can choose this product and service:

  • Class 30: "Coffee"
  • Class 43: "Cafés"
Young woman tries out using VR glasses for testing a computer program while another person takes notes on a tablet

Sales and development of computer programs

If you are going to develop and sell your own computer programs, choose computer programs in class 9.
If you are going to develop computer programs on behalf of others, choose services within the development of computer programs in class 42.
Or if you are going to sell computer programs that others have developed, choose sale of computer programs in class 35.

  • Class 9: "Computer software and systems"
  • Class 42: "Computer programs"
  • Class 35: "Sale of computer programs"
A business owner discusses some logo ideas with some of his employees in a busy office space.

Advertising, publicity and advertising agency

If you run an advertising agency or sell advertising space for other people's products, choose services within, for example:

  • Class 35: "Internet advertising"
  • Class 35: "Advertising services"
Designer takes photos of his products for marketing.

Design and sales of clothing

You design your own clothes that you will sell in your own store. At the same time, you will sell clothes from other clothing manufacturers, so you choose:

  • Class 25: "Clothes"
  • Class 35: "Clothing sales"

3 Tips

  • Select the goods and services you will use the trademark for now and in the future
  • It is not possible to add goods and services after the application has been submitted.
  • If you select pre-approved goods and services and pay upon submission, you will get a fast processing time.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

We are happy to help you in the process

Get an overview of the possibilities available to you, and how you should proceed to apply for a trademark registration. Experts at the Norwegian Industrial Property Office have extensive experience and know what you should think about.

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