3.3 Classification in other classes

Some goods and services appear in more than one class in the international classification system. For example, beverages may be classified in classes 5, 29, 30, 32 and 33, and building materials may be classified in classes 6, 17 and 19.

Care must be taken when a generic item appears in one class, and a more specific item appears in another. The specific item overrides the general item. The general item is often marked with an asterisk in the Nice Classification to indicate that those goods or services are also classified in other classes.

Example

Shoes are classified in class 25, and marked with an asterisk. Orthopaedic shoes are specifically classified in class 10, and shoes for protection against accidents, irradiation and fire are specifically classified in class 9.

In the past, applicants were required to add “all being goods/services in this class” (or similar wording) to satisfy IPONZ that the goods or services had been correctly classified. It is no longer necessary to qualify specifications in this way. The onus is on the applicant to ensure that the application is filed in the correct class, and to submit a specification that clearly sets out the goods or services the applicant wishes to cover. The examiner should check the specification and draw any errors to the attention of the applicant. However, as long as the goods or services applied for can fall under the class applied in, the examiner will assume that the applicant has applied in the correct class.

Using the example given above, an applicant who applies for shoes in class 10 will be assumed to be applying for orthopaedic shoes.