Life Jackets for Pets - Key Changes in the Nice Classification, 13th Edition

On 1 January 2026, the 13th edition of the Nice Classification came into force. First adopted in 1957, the Nice Classification provides an internationally harmonised framework for classifying goods and services for trade mark purposes.

Historically, the Nice Classification was updated approximately every five years. Since 2013, however, it has been revised annually to reflect evolving markets and the emergence of new goods and services driven by technological and consumer trends. While these annual revisions help reduce ambiguity and overlap between classes, they also require trade mark practitioners to review specifications more frequently and to adjust clearance searches, watch services and portfolio strategy accordingly.

When do the changes apply?

The 13th edition changes apply to:

• new applications filed on or after 1 January 2026; and
• international registration applications received by WIPO on or after 1 January 2026 and more than two months after the date of filing at the Office of origin.

The changes do not apply to applications filed (or registrations obtained) before 1 January 2026, which remain classified under the edition in force at the time of filing.

What are the key changes?

The 13th edition introduces several notable reclassifications affecting sectors including fashion, cosmetics, consumer electronics and SaaS.

Goods

Eyewear, including sunglasses, and corrective lenses, have moved from Class 9 to Class 10, reflecting their medical or therapeutic purpose. This represents a shift away from treating eyewear as general wearable apparatus and towards classification as medical equipment. However some eyewear goods remain in class 9, such as protective eyewear and eyewear with integrated technology e.g. smart glasses. Brand owners in fashion and lifestyle markets may therefore need to revisit filing strategies and trade mark watch coverage to ensure that eyewear-related activity is captured in Class 10 going forward.

Similarly, emergency and rescue vehicles have moved from Class 9 to Class 12, indicating that they are now treated primarily as vehicles rather than safety or technological equipment.

Other changes include:

• electric toothbrushes moving from Class 10 to Class 21;
• electrically heated clothing shifting from Class 11 to Class 25 (reflecting that the primary function is apparel); and
• essential oils being subdivided by intended use, including:
  • Class 3 (cosmetic use);
  • Class 5 (medical or therapeutic use);
  • Class 30 (food use); and
  • Class 1 (industrial/manufacturing use).

Services

On the services side, the 13th edition expressly recognises several categories that reflect market growth and professionalisation.

Most notably, artificial intelligence services are now expressly recognised in Class 42 as Artificial intelligence as a service (AIaaS), reflecting the increasing maturity of AI as a distinct service offering (rather than being treated only as part of broader software or SaaS activity).

In addition:

• notarial services are now expressly recognised in Class 45; and
• services relating to optometry has been further particularised encouraging retail of optometry goods (glasses) to be placed into class 35, and repair activities  into Class 37).

New trends, new entries

As ever, the Nice Classification continues to evolve in response to consumer trends — including some particularly niche additions. Newly created entries include:

• life jackets for pets (Class 9);
• beard aprons (Class 25);
• yoga gloves (Class 25);
• tatting shuttles (Class 26);
• wallcoverings made of artificial plants (Class 27);
• stress balls (Class 28); and
• rage rooms (entertainment) (Class 41).

WIPO (doesn’t) wish you a merry Christmas

In a less festive update, WIPO has removed the word “Christmas” from a number of entries, including references to items such as artificial Christmas wreaths, artificial Christmas garlands and Christmas crackers, and has deleted certain entries altogether (including Christmas tree candles).

What this means in practice

A key point for brand owners and practitioners is that existing registrations will not be automatically reclassified. Goods and services remain in the class in which they were originally filed, including on renewal.

As a result, where goods or services have moved classes, trade mark owners may need to:

• run clearance searches across both the historic class and the new class;
• update watch services to ensure coverage continues across both classifications; and
• consider new filings to maintain effective protection in the class now considered appropriate under the 13th edition.

Next steps for Practitioners

To check whether a particular term has moved classes (or how it is now treated under the 13th edition), practitioners can use the TM Classification Tool.

Co-authored by Daniel Amery, Trainee Solicitor at CMS