How to Choose Nice Classes for Your Japan Trademark
Understand the Nice International Classification system and learn how to select the right trademark classes for your goods and services in Japan.
What is Nice Classification
The Nice Classification is an international system established under the Nice Agreement (1957) that categorizes goods and services into 45 classes for trademark registration purposes. Japan adopted this system and uses it for all JPO trademark filings. Classes 1–34 cover goods (physical products) and Classes 35–45 cover services.
How to Choose Classes
Start by listing all the goods and services your business currently offers, then identify which Nice classes they fall under. Also consider future products or services you plan to launch within the next few years. Use the JPO's list of designated goods/services or Shohyo Navi's class finder tool to match your offerings to the correct classes.
Common Mistakes
The most frequent mistake is choosing too few classes and leaving gaps in brand protection. Another common error is selecting classes based on the class title alone without checking the detailed list of designated goods and services. Some businesses also file in too many classes unnecessarily, wasting money on protection they do not need.
Multi-Class Strategy
For businesses that operate across multiple categories, a multi-class filing strategy is essential. Consider filing your core classes immediately and adding supplementary classes as your business expands. Remember that each additional class increases both filing and registration fees, so prioritize the classes where your brand faces the greatest risk of infringement.
Related Guides
Check your trademark availability
Use our free AI-powered search to find similar trademarks registered in Japan across all 45 Nice classes.
Search Trademarks (Free)This tool provides preliminary trademark search results and general information only. It does not constitute legal advice. The accuracy of search results cannot be guaranteed. For trademark registration, please consult a licensed patent attorney (弁理士/benrishi). Shohyo Navi is a trademark information service operated by Mycat Inc.