Nice classes organise trademark goods and services into 45 categories. Classes 1 to 34 are for goods; classes 35 to 45 are for services. They affect the application fee, database search and legal scope—but selecting a number never gives automatic protection for every item inside that class.
Class numbers organise the list; the words define it
Consider class 9. It includes downloadable software but also scientific, optical and safety apparatus. An application for “downloadable accounting software” does not claim all class 9 goods. Conversely, saying only “technology” is too vague to establish a clear scope.
The specification should describe what the business supplies under the mark. NordicIP begins with the product, delivery model and customer, then finds the suitable Nice and office-approved terms. This produces a registration that can be understood by examiners, competitors and future buyers of the portfolio.
Common class combinations
| Business model | Classes often considered | Why the details matter |
|---|---|---|
| Software platform | 9, 35, 42 | Downloadable software, marketplace/business functions and SaaS are distinct services |
| Fashion brand | 18, 25, 35 | Bags, clothing and retail services sit in different classes |
| Food and beverage | 29–33, 35, 43 | The product type, retail activity and restaurant service must be separated |
| Health technology | 9, 10, 42, 44 | Software, medical devices, hosted technology and medical services are not interchangeable |
| Education business | 9, 16, 41, 42 | Downloads, printed materials, training and platforms can require different coverage |
These are starting patterns, not automatic selections. A business may need only one class from a row or additional classes not shown. The specification follows the real offering.
How classes affect NordicIP’s published filing fees
Each national office has its own official tariff, and NordicIP publishes complete straightforward-filing packages in local currency. The incremental package prices are:
- Denmark: DKK 3,500 first class; DKK 400 for the second; DKK 800 for the third and every further class; DKK 350 disbursements.
- Finland: EUR 430 first class; EUR 150 for each additional class; EUR 50 disbursements.
- Norway: NOK 5,000 for up to three classes; NOK 1,150 for the fourth and each further class; NOK 500 disbursements. This three-class allowance is NordicIP’s package, while Patentstyret’s official tariff starts with one class.
- Sweden: SEK 4,100 first class; SEK 1,300 for each additional class; SEK 550 disbursements.
The cost should be calculated after the list is designed, not before. Forcing a two-class business into one class can leave the main service unprotected. Adding unused classes “just in case” increases fees and may broaden the conflict search without creating meaningful commercial value.
Four questions for every proposed term
- What is supplied? Name the product or service, rather than the industry in which the company operates.
- How is it delivered? Downloadable software and hosted SaaS can sit in different classes even when customers use the same interface.
- Who supplies it? Selling another manufacturer’s goods as a retail service is different from placing the mark on the goods themselves.
- When will it matter? Include genuine planned expansion, but distinguish it from a remote possibility unconnected with the business plan.
Accepted terms reduce friction
TMclass shows classification terms accepted by participating offices and helps align filings across languages and jurisdictions. Norway ties its fastest published response estimate to pre-approved product terms. Sweden’s lower e-service first-class fee also depends on using goods and services from the approved list.
Accepted wording is useful when it describes the business accurately. A custom term may still be needed for an unusual product or service. NordicIP balances procedural efficiency with legal precision, rather than choosing a convenient term that misses the commercial activity.
The list can narrow, but it cannot grow after filing
An application’s original scope can generally be restricted during examination or settlement. New goods, services or classes cannot simply be added to the same filing. If the original list omits the core hosted service, a later application may be required, with a later filing date and another fee.
This rule makes pre-filing instructions valuable. A website, catalogue, app-store page or investor deck often reveals activities that a short email misses. NordicIP reviews those materials, asks focused questions and prepares a list the owner can approve before submission.
Use classification and searching together
The class plan guides the clearance search, but similar goods can sit across different classes and class overlap alone does not establish conflict. Search strategy therefore follows both the proposed terms and their commercial relationships. A carefully scoped list makes the risk analysis more accurate and the result easier to act on.
Get a class and cost plan
Send NordicIP the mark, target countries and a plain-language description of current and planned products. We will map the Nice classes, refine the wording, calculate the country fees and recommend national, EU or combined filings.
Request the plan through our contact page. You can compare current packages on the Nordic trademark fee page and explore each jurisdiction from the trademark service hub.