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Trademark Class 25: Everything You Need to Know
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Trademark Class 25 includes most types of clothing, footwear, and headgear. Class 25 is one of the 45 international classes that the USPTO uses. 10 min read
1. Trademark Class 25: What Is It?
2. Why Are Trademark Classes Important?
3. What Does Trademark Class 25 Include?
4. Common Mistakes
5. What Are the Trademark Classes?
6. Frequently Asked Questions
7. Steps to Register a Class 25 Trademark
Updated October 2,2020:
Trademark Class 25: What Is It?
Trademark Class 25 includes most types of clothing, footwear, and headgear. Class 25 is one of the 45 international classes that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) uses. Each of the USPTO's 45 classes designates a specific category of goods or services.
Why Are Trademark Classes Important?
Trademarks apply to:
Business names
Slogans
Phrases
Logos
Other commercial designations
When you register a trademark, you gain exclusive rights to use the mark on commercial products and services.
Most trademarks don't grant exclusive rights to using the mark on every possible product or service. The limits of your trademark protection only apply to the types of goods and services that you indicate on your trademark application. For instance, a trademark registered by a T-shirt company might not prevent an automobile company from using a similar mark.
When you submit a trademark application, you'll need to select one or more trademark classes that apply to your business, goods, or services. You should only select classes that apply to your goods and services or those that apply to goods and services you intend to offer. Doing this ensures that both the USPTO and the general public understand how and when your trademark applies.
What Does Trademark Class 25 Include?
Trademark Class 25 includes most types of wearable items:
Headgear: bathing caps, berets, cap peaks, caps, hat frames, hats, headgear for wear, mantillas, miters, shower caps, skull caps, top hats, turbans, visors, wimples.
Clothing: aprons, ascots, babies' pants, bandanas, bath robes, bathing trunks, bathing suits, beach clothes, belts, bibs, not of paper, boas, bodices, brassieres, breeches for wear, camisoles, chasubles, clothing for gymnastics, clothing, clothing of imitations of leather, clothing of leather, coats, collar protectors, collars, combinations, corselets, corsets, cuffs, cyclists' clothing, detachable collars, dress shields, dresses, dressing gowns, ear muffs , fishing vests, footmuffs, fur stoles, furs, gabardines, garters, girdles, gloves, headbands, heelpieces for stockings, hoods, hosiery, jackets, jerseys, pinafore dresses, knitwear, layettes, leggings, leg warmers, liveries, maniples, masquerade costumes, mittens, money belts, motorists' clothing, muffs, neckties, outerclothing, overalls, overcoats, drawers, paper clothing, paper hats, parkas, pelerines, pelisses, petticoats, pocket squares, pockets for clothing, ponchos, pullovers, pajamas, ready-made linings, ready-made clothing, saris, sarongs, sashes for wear, scarves, shawls, shirt yokes, shirt fronts, shirts, short-sleeve shirts, sports jerseys, ski gloves, skirts, skorts, sleep masks, slips, sock suspenders, socks, gaiters, stocking suspenders, stockings, sweat-absorbent stockings, stuff jackets, suits, suspenders, anti-sweat underwear, sweaters, teddies, tee-shirts, tights, togas, gaiter straps, trousers, underpants, underwear, uniforms, veils, vests, waterproof clothing, wet suits for water-skiing.
Footwear: bath sandals, bath slippers, beach shoes, boot uppers, boots, boots for sports, esparto shoes or sandals, fittings of metal for footwear, football shoes, footwear, footwear uppers, galoshes, gymnastic shoes, half-boots, heelpieces for footwear, heels, inner soles, lace boots, non-slipping devices for footwear, sandals, shoes, ski boots, slippers, soles for footwear, sports shoes, studs for football boots, tips for footwear, welts for footwear, wooden shoes.
Class 25 is one of the most popular trademark classes for new applications. That means your trademark may face competition or tighter scrutiny. Other common classes include:
Class 9 (Electrical and Scientific Apparatus): This includes computer software and electronics.
Class 35: (Advertising and Business Services): This includes advertising, business administration, and office functions
Class 41 (Education and Entertainment): This includes publishing, teaching, and entertainment services.
Class 42 (Computer and Scientific): This includes technology, scientific, and research services.
Common Mistakes
Selecting a Good Class Rather Than a Service Class: Choose carefully between good and service classes. For instance, T-shirts are a clothing product. However, a T-shirt printing company is a service.
Selecting the Wrong Trademark Class: The class must represent your product or service in its final version. The trademark class shouldn't reflect the product's ingredients or the way you're planning to market it. For instance, you don't need to select Class 16 (Paper Goods) and Class 25 (Clothing, Footwear, Headgear) to cover both shoes and the shoebox.
Selecting Too Many Trademark Classes: When you apply for a trademark, the trademark examiner will search for similar, preexisting marks. If your trademark description and classes are too broad, it may infringe an existing mark. In this case, the trademark examiner will reject your trademark application.
Selecting Too Few Trademark Classes: If your trademark doesn't fully cover the way you intend to use it, you could encounter serious legal issues. If another party registers a similar trademark in a different class, you may infringe another trademark.
What Are the Trademark Classes?
Since September 1, 1973, the USPTO has used the same standardized categories of goods and services used in most nations around the world. The Nice Agreement outlines this in the International Trademark Classification System. It's also known as the Nice Classification (NCL). This standardized system includes 45 broad categories, with 34 good categories and 11 service categories.
NCL Classes
Class No.
Type
Description of Goods
Class 1
Chemicals
Chemicals used in industry, science and photography, as well as in agriculture, horticulture and forestry
Unprocessed artificial resins, unprocessed plastics
Manures
Fire extinguishing compositions
Tempering and soldering preparations
Chemical substances for preserving foodstuffs
Tanning substances
Adhesives used in industry
Class 2
Paints
Paints, varnishes, lacquers
Preservatives against rust and against deterioration of wood
Colorants
Mordants
Raw natural resins
Metals in foil and powder form for painters, decorators, printers and artists
Class 3
Cosmetics and Cleaning Preparations
Bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use
Cleaning, polishing, scouring and abrasive preparations
Soaps
Perfumery, essential oils, cosmetics, hair lotions
Dentifrices
Class 4
Lubricants and Fuels
Industrial oils and greases
Lubricants
Dust absorbing, wetting and binding compositions
Fuels (including motor spirit) and illuminants
Candles and wicks for lighting.
Class 5
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceutical and veterinary preparations
Sanitary preparations for medical purposes
Dietetic substances adapted for medical use, food for babies
Plasters, materials for dressings
Material for stopping teeth, dental wax
Disinfectants
Preparations for destroying vermin
Fungicides, herbicides
Class 6
Metal Goods
Common metals and their alloys
Metal building materials
Transportable buildings of metal
Materials of metal for railway tracks
Non-electric cables and wires of common metal
Ironmongery, small items of metal hardware
Pipes and tubes of metal
Safes
Goods of common metal not included in other classes
Ores.
Class 7
Machinery
Machines and machine tools
Motors and engines (except for land vehicles)
Machine coupling and transmission components (except for land vehicles)
Agricultural implements other than hand-operated
Incubators for eggs.
Class 8
Hand Tools
Hand tools and implements (hand-operated)
Cutlery
Side arms
Razors
Class 9
Electrical and Scientific Apparatus
Scientific, nautical, surveying, photographic, cinematographic, optical, weighing, measuring, signaling, checking (supervision), life-saving and teaching apparatus and instruments
Apparatus and instruments for conducting, switching, transforming, accumulating, regulating or controlling electricity
Apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images
Magnetic data carriers, recording discs
Automatic vending machines and mechanisms for coin-operated apparatus
Cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment and computers
Fire-extinguishing apparatus
Class 10
Medical Apparatus
Surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments, artificial limbs, eyes and teeth; orthopedic articles; suture materials.
Class 11
Environmental Control Apparatus
Apparatus for lighting, heating, steam generating, cooking, refrigerating, drying, ventilating, water supply and sanitary purposes.
Class 12
Vehicles
Vehicles
Apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water
Class 13
Firearms
Firearms
Ammunition and projectiles
Explosives
Fireworks
Class 14
Jewelry
Precious metals and their alloys and goods in precious metals or coated therewith, not included in other classes
Jewelry, precious stones
Horological and chronometric instruments
Class 15
Musical Instruments
Musical instruments.
Class 16
Paper goods and Printed Matter
Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials, not included in other classes
Printed matter
Bookbinding material
Photographs
Stationery
Adhesives for stationery or household purposes
Artists' materials
Paint brushes
Typewriters and office requisites (except furniture)
Instructional and teaching material (except apparatus)
Plastic materials for packaging (not included in other classes)
Printers' type
Printing blocks
Class 17
Rubber Goods
Rubber, gutta-percha, gum, asbestos, mica and goods made from these materials and not included in other classes
Plastics in extruded form for use in manufacture
Packing, stopping and insulating materials
Flexible pipes, not of metal
Class 18
Leather Goods
Leather and imitations of leather, and goods made of these materials and not included in other classes
Animal skins, hides; trunks and travelling bags
Umbrellas, parasols and walking sticks
Whips, harness and saddlery
Class 19
Nonmetallic Building Materials
Building materials (non-metallic)
Non-metallic rigid pipes for building
Asphalt, pitch and bitumen
Non-metallic transportable buildings
Monuments, not of metal
Class 20
Furniture and Articles not Otherwise Classified
Furniture, mirrors, picture frames
Goods (not included in other classes) of wood, cork, reed, cane, wicker, horn, bone, ivory, whalebone, shell, amber, mother-of-pearl, meerschaum and substitutes for all these materials, or of plastics
Class 21
Housewares and Glass
Household or kitchen utensils and containers
Combs and sponges
Brushes (except paint brushes)
Brush-making materials
Articles for cleaning purposes
Steel wool
Unworked or semi-worked glass (except glass used in building)
Glassware, porcelain and earthenware not included in other classes
Class 22
Cordage and Fibers
Ropes, string, nets, tents, awnings, tarpaulins, sails, sacks and bags (not included in other classes)
Padding and stuffing materials (except of rubber or plastics)
Raw fibrous textile materials
Class 23
Yarns and Threads
Yarns and threads, for textile use
Class 24
Fabrics
Textiles and textile goods, not included in other classes
Bed and table covers
Class 25
Clothing
Clothing, footwear, headgear
Class 26
Fancy Goods
Lace and embroidery, ribbons and braid
Buttons, hooks and eyes, pins and needles
Artificial flowers
Class 27
Floor Coverings
Carpets, rugs, mats and matting, linoleum and other materials for covering existing floors
Wall hangings (non-textile)
Class 28
Toys and Sporting Goods
Games and playthings
Gymnastic and sporting articles not included in other classes
Decorations for Christmas trees
Class 29
Meats and Processed Foods
Meat, fish, poultry and game
Meat extracts
Preserved, frozen, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables
Jellies, jams, compotes
Eggs, milk and milk products
Edible oils and fats
Class 30
Staple Foods
Coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, rice, tapioca, sago, artificial coffee
Flour and preparations made from cereals, bread, pastry and confectionery, ices
Honey, treacle
Yeast, baking-powder
Salt, mustard
Vinegar, sauces (condiments)
Spices
Ice
Class 31
Natural Agricultural Products
Agricultural, horticultural and forestry products and grains not included in other classes
Live animals; fresh fruits and vegetables; seeds, natural plants and flowers; foodstuffs for animals, malt.
Class 32
Light Beverages
Beers
Mineral and aerated waters and other non-alcoholic drinks
Fruit drinks and fruit juices
Syrups and other preparations for making beverages
Class 33
Wine and Spirits
Alcoholic beverages (except beers)
Class 34
Smokers' Articles
Tobacco
Smokers' articles
Matches
NCL Services
Class No.
Type
Description of Services
Class 35
Advertising and Business
Advertising
Business management
Business administration
Office functions
Class 36
Insurance and Financial
Insurance
Financial affairs
Monetary affairs
Real estate affairs
Class 37
Building Construction and Repair
Building construction
Repair
Installation services
Class 38
Telecommunications
Telecommunications
Class 39
Transportation and storage)
Transport
Packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement.
Class 40
Treatment of Materials
Treatment of materials
Class 41
Education and Entertainment
Education
Providing of training
Entertainment
Sporting and cultural activities
Class 42
Computer and Scientific
Scientific and technological services and research and design relating thereto
Industrial analysis and research services
Design and development of computer hardware and software
Class 43
Hotels and Restaurants
Services for providing food and drink
Temporary accommodation.
Class 44
Medical, Beauty & Agricultural
Medical services
Veterinary services
Hygienic and beauty care for human beings or animals
Agriculture, horticulture and forestry services
Class 45
Personal
Legal services
Security services for the protection of property and individuals
Personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Trademark Classes Can I Select?
There's no limit to the number of trademark classes you can select. In general, try to strike a balance between narrow and broad definitions of your product.
Can I Add Another Class to My Trademark?
No, you can't add classes at a later date. You must include all relevant classes when you submit your application. If you need to add more, you'll have to start the application process from the beginning.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Trademark Class 25?
Check the current USPTO trademark fee schedule. Trademark applications start at $225. You'll typically pay an extra fee for every additional class.
Steps to Register a Class 25 Trademark
1. Do a Trademark Search: Check for similar, preexisting trademarks in Class 25 using the USPTO Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) database. You can also review the USPTO Official Gazette. It publishes new trademarks.
2. File a Trademark Application: Submit your trademark application through the USPTO Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) and pay the appropriate filing fee. The application includes the following:
Basis for Application: Check either "use in commerce" if you already sell or market goods and services with the mark. If you plan to do so soon, check "intent to use."
Identification of the Class of Goods: Check Class 25 and any other coordinated classes.
Description of the Goods: Use a preexisting description of your goods or create a custom written description that uses language that an average person can understand. If you do the latter, be specific and provide some key examples. Use a broad term, but ensure that it's qualified and that it doesn't fall into multiple trademark classes. You can use the USPTO's ID Manual to confirm whether the term is too broad. Follow this term with a word like "namely" or "consisting of" instead of using indefinite words like "including" or "such as." Be sure to use a semicolon to separate distinct categories of goods in a single class. Don't reference trademarked terms or products made by other brands in your description, and don't include goods that you don't offer for sale. Review some registered trademarks to compare your description and ensure that you've completed it correctly.
Specimen: Include an example of how the trademark will appear. This normally includes a photograph of the stamp or stencil. For Trademark Class 25, include a clothing, footwear, or headgear label or tag.
Information About the Applicant: List your name and mailing address. If you're filing as a company, list your business name instead.
Declaration: Sign this to indicate that you've filed the application truthfully.