The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has confirmed that the 13th edition of the Nice Classification will take effect on 1 January 2026. WIPO
Below is a summary of what’s changing, plus the steps you can take now to keep new filings and your brand protection strategy on track.
What is the Nice Classification?
The Nice Classification is the internationally used system for categorising the goods and services covered by a trade mark application. It’s the framework trade mark offices rely on when they assess whether your specification is correctly drafted and appropriately classified.
When does the new edition apply?
From 1 January 2026, the 13th edition will apply to:
- New applications filed on or after 1 January 2026 in offices of origin; and
- Madrid Protocol international applications that WIPO receives on or after 1 January 2026 where the filing reaches WIPO after the two-month time limit under Article 3(4).
Existing international registrations dated earlier than 1 January 2026 won’t be reclassified.
What’s changing in the 13th edition?
The update impacts all 45 classes, with many clarifications and some notable reclassifications. A few headline changes are:
- Eyewear (e.g., glasses, sunglasses, lenses, frames) moves from Class 9 to Class 10.
- Emergency vehicles (e.g., fire engines, rescue boats, lifeboats) move from Class 9 to Class 12.
- Electrically heated clothing (e.g., heated garments/socks) moves from Class 11 to Class 25.
- Essential oils are no longer “one-size-fits-all” in Class 3. Their classification depends on intended use (for example cosmetic use in Class 3, therapeutic/medical use in Class 5, and food purposes in Class 30).
- Artificial intelligence as a service (AIaaS) is now expressly recognised in Class 42.
- Notary services are now expressly recognised in Class 45.
Why this matters
- New filings from 1 January 2026
Applications filed from 1 January 2026 will be examined using the new classification approach.
Tip: If you’re filing around year-end, confirm your specification is future-proofed for the 2026 framework (especially for “borderline” categories like tech, wearables, and medical-adjacent goods).
- Existing registrations generally stay as they are
You typically won’t need to reclassify existing filings made before 1 January 2026 (including existing Madrid registrations).
Tip: Even if reclassification isn’t required, it can be worth reviewing whether your current coverage still matches how the market (and Trade Marks Offices) will view your goods/services going forward.
- Watching and enforcement programs need a refresh
Where goods have moved class, watching criteria and enforcement filters often need updating.
Tip: If you rely on “class-only” watching, consider expanding to keyword-based watching across impacted classes for at least the first 6–12 months of 2026.
- Clearance searches should straddle old and new classes
During the transition, the smartest clearance strategy is to search across both:
- the historic class placement (for earlier filings/registrations), and
- the new class placement (for post-1 January 2026 filings).
Need help with a 2026-ready specification?
If you’re planning a trade mark filing in early 2026 (or updating a watch/clearance strategy), we can help you draft a specification that is compliant, commercially aligned, and built to reduce enforcement gaps under the new edition.