While filling in your trademark application form you are required to indicate the Class of goods and/or services for which you wish to register your trademark and to group them according to “classes”. The classes refer to the classes in the trademark classification system.

The trademark classification system allows storage of data on registered trademarks in an orderly manner in relation to the types of goods or services. This makes it easier to retrieve information from trademark databases. It is critical to register your trademark in all classes in which you intend to use your trademark.

KIPI uses the International Trademark Classification system referred to as the Nice System for classification of word marks, which has 34 classes for goods and a further 11 for services (for more information on Nice Classification system

Types for Classes of Trademarks in Kenya.

1. 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
2. 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
3. Class 3 - Bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use; cleaning, polishing, scouring and abrasive preparations; soaps; perfumery, essential oils, cosmetics, hair lotions; dentifrices
4. Class 4 - Industrial oils and greases; lubricants; dust absorbing, wetting and binding compositions; fuels (including motor spirit) and illuminates; candles and wicks for lighting
5. Class 5 - Pharmaceutical and veterinary preparations; sanitary preparations for medical purposes; dietetic food and substances adapted for medical or veterinary use, food for babies; dietary supplements for humans and animals; plasters, materials for dressings; material for stopping teeth, dental wax; disinfectants; preparations for destroying vermin; fungicides, herbicides
6. 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
7. 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; automatic vending machines
8. Class 8 - Hand tools and implements(hand-operated); cutlery; side arms; razors
9. Class 9 - Scientific, nautical, surveying, photographic, cinematographic, optical, weighing, measuring, signaling, 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; compact discs, DVDs and other digital recording media; mechanisms for coin-operated apparatus; cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment, computers; computer software; fire-extinguishing apparatus
10. Class 10 - Surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments, artificial limbs, eyes and teeth; orthopedic articles; suture materials
11. Class 11 - Apparatus for lighting, heating, steam generating, cooking, refrigerating, drying, ventilating, water supply and sanitary purposes
12. Class 12 - Vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water
13. Class 13 - Firearms; ammunition and projectiles; explosives; fireworks
14. Class 14 - Precious metals and their alloys and goods in precious metals or coated therewith, not included in other classes; jewelery, precious stones; horological and chronometric instruments
15. Class 15 - Musical instruments
16. 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
17. 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
18. Class 18 - Leather and imitations of leather, and goods made of these materials and not included in other classes; animal skins, hides; trunks and traveling bags; umbrellas and parasols; walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery
19. Class 19 - Building materials (non-metallic); non-metallic rigid pipes for building; asphalt, pitch and bitumen; non-metallic transportable buildings; monuments, not of metal
20. 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
21. Class 21 - Household or kitchen utensils and containers; combs and sponges; brushes (except paint brushes); brush-making materials; articles for cleaning purposes; steel-wool; unworked or semi-worked glass (except glass used in building); glassware, porcelain and earthenware not included in other classes
22. 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
23. Class 23 - Yarns and threads, for textile use
24. Class 24 - Textiles and textile goods, not included in other classes; bed covers; table covers
25. Class 25 - Clothing, footwear, headgear
26. Class 26 - Lace and embroidery, ribbons and braid; buttons, hooks and eyes, pins and needles; artificial flowers
27. Class 27 - Carpets, rugs, mats and matting, linoleum and other materials for covering existing floors; wall hangings (non-textile)
28. Class 28 - Games and playthings; gymnastic and sporting articles not included in other classes; decorations for Christmas trees
29. Class 29 - Meat, fish, poultry and game; meat extracts; preserved, frozen, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables; jellies, jams, compotes; eggs; milk and milk products; edible oils and fats
30. Class 30 - Coffee, tea, cocoa and artificial coffee; rice; tapioca and sago; flour and preparations made from cereals; bread, pastry and confectionery; ices; sugar, honey, treacle; yeast, baking-powder; salt; mustard; vinegar, sauces (condiments); spices; ice
31. Class 31 - Grains and agricultural, horticultural and forestry products not included in other classes; live animals; fresh fruits and vegetables; seeds; natural plants and flowers; foodstuffs for animals; malt
32. Class 32 - Beers; mineral and aerated waters and other non-alcoholic beverages; fruit beverages and fruit juices; syrups and other preparations for making beverages
33. Class 33 - Alcoholic beverages (except beers)
34. Class 34 - Tobacco; smokers’ articles; matches
35. Class 35 - Advertising; business management; business administration; office functions
36. Class 36 - Insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs
37. Class 37 - Building construction; repair; installation services
38. Class 38 - Telecommunications
39. Class 39 - Transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement
40. Class 40 - Treatment of materials
41. Class 41 - Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities
42. 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
43. Class 43 - Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation
44. Class 44 - Medical services; veterinary services; hygienic and beauty care for human beings or animals; agriculture, horticulture and forestry services
45. Class 45 - Personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals; security services for the protection of property and individuals

Example of Trademark Classification in Kenya.

1. Let us take an example. If your company is producing knives and forks, then your trademark application should be made for the corresponding goods in class 8.
2. If, however, you wish to market other kitchen utensils such as containers, pans or pots using the same trademark you will also have to register the mark for the corresponding goods in class 21.
3. You may cover a number of classes with a single application, the system referred to as the multiple class filing

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