How to choose goods, services and Nice classes

First describe what the business sells or provides under the brand, then choose the classes. The goods and services list in an application should match actual activities and realistic plans. A class number alone does not explain which goods or services you want to protect.

What the Nice Classification is for

WIPO’s Nice Classification organises goods and services for trademark registration. It is updated, so use the edition in force when preparing the application. The Ukrainian abbreviation МКТП refers to the International Classification of Goods and Services.

The classification has 45 classes, grouping goods and services by different areas. However, a broad industry description in a business plan does not always correspond to a single classification entry. Check the explanatory notes and specific terms, not just class headings.

Turn the business model into a clear list

Make a separate list of what customers pay you for. Instead of “an ecosystem for entrepreneurs”, say whether you sell software, provide access to an online service, run training or offer consulting. You do not need to determine the final legal wording yourself at this stage: accurate product facts are what matter.

For illustration, a studio sells its own planners, runs workshops and offers a digital planning service. These are three different offerings for the list. Copying “stationery” from another business’s application may miss important parts of the studio’s activities.

Add a short description to each offering: what customers receive, in what form, how they use it and who provides the service. For software, explain whether it is downloaded or used online. For manufacturing, explain whether you sell finished goods under your own brand or fulfil orders for others.

Separate current products from plans

Identify activities already launched, those ready to launch and ideas that are still hypothetical. This makes the scope of protection a concrete discussion. Do not add dozens of activities merely because they might appear someday; do not exclude a planned product simply because it is not yet on the website.

Explain each item to the specialist. “Shop services” and a list of your own goods address different needs. An online shop owner should explain whether they sell other companies’ products, develop their own product brand or combine these models.

Check terms using the relevant tools

Global G&S Terms Explorer helps with goods and services terminology and classification. Use it as a preparation aid, then check the final list against the requirements of the office receiving the application.

For a Ukrainian application, check grouping and formatting against the Ukrainian IP Office’s official filing materials. Simply translating wording from someone else’s foreign certificate may not fit your product or the formatting rules.

What to submit for approval

The final trademark name or image.
A plain-language list of products and services.
A description of how the product is sold and used.
Confirmed near-term development plans.
The chosen countries and budget constraints.
Proposed wording with explanations of unfamiliar terms.

Common mistakes

Include someone who knows the product well in the internal review. A legal adviser may correctly classify the service described but cannot guess an activity missing from the brief. Ask the product manager to compare the list with the catalogue, pricing plans and launch schedule. Pay particular attention to additional services customers buy separately from the main product, and explain their role in the business.

Do not choose classes solely by copying a competitor: apparently similar companies may earn money from different services. Do not approve wording you do not understand just because it sounds legal. Ask which entry corresponds to each product and which important activities remain outside the list.

Keep the agreed version with the application and the business-model explanation. When adding a product, revisit the list and reassess protection. This is a simple way to keep the trademark portfolio aligned with the company’s development and identify gaps in time.

Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026.