Goods and services
Your application for a European Union trade mark must contain a representation of the trade mark you want to register and a list of the goods and/or services to be covered by the mark.
There are certain rules for how to present the list of goods and services:
- The goods and services should be specified as accurately and precisely as possible.
- They should be classified under one of the classes of the Nice Classification.
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has adopted the Nice Classification for classifying goods and services. The Nice Classification divides the goods and services into 45 categories (or classes).
Your EUR 850 application fee enables you to choose one class. For an additional fee of EUR 50 you can add a second class, and for three or more classes you will need to pay EUR 150 for each class.
Find and classify your goods and services
When you apply for a trade mark using any of our online application forms, the Five-step form and the advanced form, you will be able to search and browse through a list of goods and services known as the Harmonised Database.
This database contains terms that have already been accepted by EUIPO and by all national intellectual property offices in the European Union and beyond.
The fastest way to get your trade mark published
Selecting your goods and services from the Harmonised database allows us to process your application more smoothly. Your application could also be accepted for Fast Track, EUIPO's accelerated procedure to have your application published faster.
You can also use our ‘Goods and services builder' to prepare your list before applying. This is recommended for professional practitioners, as sometimes several applications need to be submitted at once.
Writing a specification of goods and services is a balancing act.
Think big
You, as a company, may actually be providing more goods and services than you think. Although you may feel certain of what market you are in today, think about how you want to develop your mark in the future. For example, if you manufacture sweets today, you might want to offer more goods (such as ice cream) in two or five years.
Be realistic
It might seem tempting to claim a wide range of goods and/or services, but remember, if you don't use your mark on all the goods or services you apply for, your EU trade mark will be vulnerable to attack.
If you narrow down your specification, you'll reduce the risk of conflict with other marks.
We would kindly like to remind you, that long lists of goods and/or services may lead to a number of disadvantages, namely:
- a higher risk of classification deficiencies;
- delays in publication and registration of the EUTM;
- an increased risk of conflicts with other trade marks (oppositions);
- an increased risk of a trade mark being eventually cancelled because of a similarity to an earlier mark or non-use of all the registered goods and/or services.
Please don't forget: Once you have filed your application you won't be able to add to your specification, so think carefully about which goods and/or services to choose.
