What a class is
Trademark protection is not general. It applies to specific categories of goods or services, defined by the NICE classification — 45 classes in total, with classes 1 to 34 covering goods and 35 to 45 covering services.
Registering 'SUNRISE' in class 25 protects it for clothing. It does not stop someone else registering 'SUNRISE' in class 43 for a restaurant. That is by design: the same word can coexist across unrelated trades.
Common classes by business type
The classes we file in most often:
| Class | Covers | Typical business |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Software, electronics, downloadable apps | Tech products, SaaS |
| 25 | Clothing, footwear, headgear | Apparel brands |
| 29 & 30 | Processed foods, snacks, spices, beverages | Packaged food brands |
| 35 | Advertising, business management, retail services | Agencies, retailers, marketplaces |
| 41 | Education, training, entertainment | Coaching institutes, media |
| 42 | IT services, software development, design | IT services companies |
| 43 | Food and drink services, accommodation | Restaurants, cafés, hotels |
| 44 | Medical, beauty and wellness services | Clinics, salons, spas |
When you need more than one class
A business that both makes a product and sells it through its own outlets often needs two classes. A packaged snacks brand with its own retail stores would look at class 30 for the goods and class 35 for the retail service.
Each class carries its own government fee — ₹4,500 for individuals, startups and small enterprises, ₹9,000 for others. So a three-class filing costs three times the single-class fee. That is worth planning rather than discovering.
Registering defensively
Some businesses register in classes adjacent to their own to stop competitors moving in. A clothing brand might also take class 18 for bags and class 35 for retail, even if it does not trade there yet.
This is a commercial judgement about budget against risk. It is worth doing where the brand is genuinely valuable and expansion into the adjacent category is plausible. It is wasted money where neither applies.
Search before you file
The single most useful step happens before class selection: search the registry for identical and similar marks in the classes you are considering. If a conflicting mark already exists, you will face an objection or opposition, and the government fee is not refunded.
A proper search also covers company names and common law use, because a prior user with established unregistered rights can oppose your application or bring a passing-off action. We run this free, and we tell clients honestly when we think the name is too weak to be worth filing.
This guide is general information, not advice for your specific situation. Statutory thresholds, fees and due dates change by notification — we confirm the current position for your case before you commit to anything.