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Trademark Search

Trademarks are divided into different classes for goods and services. There are 34 goods classes (class 1-34) and 11 services classes (35-45). A search should be conducted for the trademark classes in which you require protection.

• You can increase the chances of a successful trademark registration by choosing an original and distinctive trademark (don’t copy others). For example, KODAK or SAMSUNG.
• Try avoid words that are purely descriptive or necessary for use in the trade. For example FRUIT & VEGGIES for food products. Use of APPLE for computers would however be acceptable.
• An unique combination including or comprising descriptive words may however be registerable as a whole, e.g. PG GLASS

Class Headings
Classes 1-34 = Goods, Classes 35 – 45 = Services
Class 1	Chemicals used in industry, science and photography, as well as in agriculture, horticulture and forestry; unprocessed artificial resins, unprocessed plastics; manures; fire extinguishing compositions; tempering and soldering preparations; chemical substances for preserving foodstuffs; tanning substances; adhesives used in industry.
Class 2	Paints, varnishes, lacquers; preservatives against rust and against deterioration of wood; colorants; mordants; raw natural resins; metals in foil and powder form for painters, decorators, printers and artists.
Class 3	Bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use; cleaning, polishing, scouring and abrasive preparations; soaps; perfumery, essential oils, cosmetics, hair lotions; dentifrices.
Class 4	Industrial oils and greases; lubricants; dust absorbing, wetting and binding compositions; fuels (including motor spirit) and illuminants; candles and wicks for lighting.
Class 5	Pharmaceutical and veterinary preparations; sanitary preparations for medical purposes; dietetic substances adapted for medical use, food for babies; plasters, materials for dressings; material for stopping teeth, dental wax; disinfectants; preparations for destroying vermin; fungicides, herbicides.
Class 6	Common metals and their alloys; metal building materials; transportable buildings of metal; materials of metal for railway tracks; non-electric cables and wires of common metal; ironmongery, small items of metal hardware; pipes and tubes of metal; safes; goods of common metal not included in other classes; ores.
Class 7	Machines and machine tools; motors and engines (except for land vehicles); machine coupling and transmission components (except for land vehicles); agricultural implements other than hand-operated; incubators for eggs.
Class 8	Hand tools and implements (hand-operated); cutlery; side arms; razors.
Class 9	Scientific, nautical, surveying, photographic, cinematographic, optical, weighing, measuring, signalling, checking (supervision), life-saving and teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus and instruments for conducting, switching, transforming, accumulating, regulating or controlling electricity; apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images; magnetic data carriers, recording discs; automatic vending machines and mechanisms for coin-operated apparatus; cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment and computers; fire-extinguishing apparatus.
Class 10	Surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments, artificial limbs, eyes and teeth; orthopedic articles; suture materials.
Class 11	Apparatus for lighting, heating, steam generating, cooking, refrigerating, drying, ventilating, water supply and sanitary purposes.
Class 12	Vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water.
Class 13	Firearms; ammunition and projectiles; explosives; fireworks.
Class 14	Precious metals and their alloys and goods in precious metals or coated therewith, not included in other classes; jewellery, precious stones; horological and chronometric instruments.
Class 15	Musical instruments.
Class 16	Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials, not included in other classes; printed matter; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery; adhesives for stationery or household purposes; artists' materials; paint brushes; typewriters and office requisites (except furniture); instructional and teaching material (except apparatus); plastic materials for packaging (not included in other classes); printers' type; printing blocks.
Class 17	Rubber, gutta-percha, gum, asbestos, mica and goods made from these materials and not included in other classes; plastics in extruded form for use in manufacture; packing, stopping and insulating materials; flexible pipes, not of metal.
Class 18	Leather and imitations of leather, and goods made of these materials and not included in other classes; animal skins, hides; trunks and travelling bags; umbrellas, parasols and walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery.
Class 19	Building materials (non-metallic); non-metallic rigid pipes for building; asphalt, pitch and bitumen; non-metallic transportable buildings; monuments, not of metal.
Class 20	Furniture, mirrors, picture frames; goods (not included in other classes) of wood, cork, reed, cane, wicker, horn, bone, ivory, whalebone, shell, amber, mother-of-pearl, meerschaum and substitutes for all these materials, or of plastics.
Class 21	Household or kitchen utensils and containers (not of precious metal or coated therewith); combs and sponges; brushes (except paint brushes); brush-making materials; articles for cleaning purposes; steelwool; unworked or semi-worked glass (except glass used in building); glassware, porcelain and earthenware not included in other classes.
Class 22	Ropes, string, nets, tents, awnings, tarpaulins, sails, sacks and bags (not included in other classes); padding and stuffing materials (except of rubber or plastics); raw fibrous textile materials.
Class 23	Yarns and threads, for textile use.
Class 24	Textiles and textile goods, not included in other classes; bed and table covers.
Class 25	Clothing, footwear, headgear.
Class 26	Lace and embroidery, ribbons and braid; buttons, hooks and eyes, pins and needles; artificial flowers.
Class 27	Carpets, rugs, mats and matting, linoleum and other materials for covering existing floors; wall hangings (non-textile).
Class 28	Games and playthings; gymnastic and sporting articles not included in other classes; decorations for Christmas trees.
Class 29	Meat, fish, poultry and game; meat extracts; preserved, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables; jellies, jams, compotes; eggs, milk and milk products; edible oils and fats.
Class 30	Coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, rice, tapioca, sago, artificial coffee; flour and preparations made from cereals, bread, pastry and confectionery, ices; honey, treacle; yeast, baking-powder; salt, mustard; vinegar, sauces (condiments); spices; ice.
Class 31	Agricultural, horticultural and forestry products and grains not included in other classes; live animals; fresh fruits and vegetables; seeds, natural plants and flowers; foodstuffs for animals, malt.
Class 32	Beers; mineral and aerated waters and other non-alcoholic drinks; fruit drinks and fruit juices; syrups and other preparations for making beverages.
Class 33	Alcoholic beverages (except beers).
Class 34	Tobacco; smokers' articles; matches.
Class 35	Advertising; business management; business administration; office functions; retail and wholesale.
Class 36	Insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs.
Class 37	Building construction; repair; installation services.
Class 38	Telecommunications.
Class 39	Transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement.
Class 40	Treatment of materials.
Class 41	Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities.
Class 42	Scientific and technological services and research and design relating thereto; industrial analysis and research services; design and development of computer hardware and software.
Class 43	Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation.
Class 44	Medical services; veterinary services; hygienic and beauty care for human beings or animals; agriculture, horticulture and forestry services.
Class 45	Personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals; security services for the protection of property and individuals; legal services.

Trademarks Applications

Trademark Filing Requirements:

1. Trademark / Logo (preferably electronic format),
2. Translation into English (if applicable),
3. International Classification
4. Description of goods/services
5. Details of Applicant (name, physical address and nationality)
6. Power of Attorney – can be late filed
7. Priority Document – certified copy must be filed within 3 months of application

Note: No legalisation of documents required

What is a mark?

Definition: “any sign capable of being represented graphically, including a device, name, signature, word, letter, numeral, shape, configuration, pattern, ornamentation, colour or container for goods or any combination of the aforementioned”.

What is a trade mark?

Definition: “other than a certification or collective mark, means a mark used or proposed to be used in relation to goods or services for the purposes of distinguishing goods or services in relation to which the mark is used or proposed to be used from the same kind of goods or services connected in the course of trade with any other person”.

Trade marks are words, logos or slogans, which capable of distinguishing the goods or services of the trade mark owner from goods or services of others.

Trade marks once registered, can be renewed every 10 years in perpetuity. If they are not registered, their owners may still be able to stop use of the marks by others provided they are shown to have a repute and that the use of the contentious mark will cause the public to be misled. However this involves problems associated with proving that the public will be misled unless the unauthorised use is stopped.

Non registered / common law trade marks are capable of protection against unlawful use. Such unlawful use occurs when the use by another is likely to mislead the public (i.e. the goods or services are that of the trade mark owner). The disadvantage on relying on common law trade marks, is that the owner must prove the mark’s reputation (a time consuming and expensive exercise). A registered trade mark does not require such proof and is thus easier to enforce.

How are trade marks classified?

Trade marks are divided and classified into various classes of goods & services. It is often necessary to file trade mark applications in several classes to obtain comprehensive / adequate protection. A separate application is required for each class. Click here to see a list of Classes