Types of Trademarks in India with Trademark Classes 1 to 45 Explained

Types of Trademarks in India & Classes

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, protecting your brand is just as important as building it. A trademark serves as a unique identity for your products or services, helping customers distinguish your offerings from competitors. Understanding the types of trademarks in India and the trademark class list is essential for every entrepreneur and startup owner to ensure proper legal protection and brand recognition.

This guide provides a complete overview of what a trademark is, its significance under Indian law, the different types of trademarks, and a detailed explanation of trademark classes 1 to 45. You’ll also learn how to identify the correct class in trademark, use tools like the trademark class finder, and ensure your registration covers all relevant goods and services.

For professional guidance, Startup Portal Business Services, the Best Trademark Registration Consultant in Pune, simplifies the trademark registration process—offering expert support, accurate classification, and hassle-free filing to protect your intellectual property.

What is a Trademark?

A trademark under the Trademark Act, 1999, is a mark capable of being represented graphically and capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one person from those of others. It may include a device, brand name, heading, label, ticket, signature, word, letter, numeral, shape of goods or their packaging, colour combination, or sound or scent.

Difference between Trademark, Copyright, and Patent:

A trademark protects brand identifiers (name, logo, slogan) that distinguish goods/services.
Copyright protects original literary, artistic works (books, music, paintings).
A patent protects inventions (technical solutions, new processes or products).

A trademark gives you exclusive rights to use your brand label in the relevant class of goods/services so that consumers identify your origin and you prevent misuse.

Meaning & Importance of Trademark:

A trademark signifies much more than just a name or symbol—it represents your business’s reputation, brand identity and promise to customers.

Legal protection and brand identity benefits:

It gives you the exclusive right to use your mark in the class(es) for which it is registered.
It allows you to take legal action against unauthorised use (infringement) of your mark.

How it helps build consumer trust?

Customers associate your trademark with consistent quality and service.
A registered trademark signals professional and serious business operation, boosting credibility.

Preventing misuse: Registering the correct mark under the correct class helps you stop others from using a confusingly similar mark in the same or similar category of goods/services, thereby protecting your brand equity.

Read also – Importance of Trademark registration

Types of Trademarks in India:

Understanding the types of trademark in India is key to ensuring that you decide correctly how to protect your brand. Here are the different types of trademarks recognised in India:

Word Marks – These cover brand names or words alone (for example the name “Startup Portal”).
Logo or Device Marks – Graphical logos or designs which may or may not include words.
Shape Marks – Unique shapes of goods or packaging that identify the source (for example a distinctive bottle shape).
Sound Marks – Distinctive audio tones or jingles (for example a brand sound logo).
Colour Marks – Specific colour combinations or schemes which by themselves identify a brand.
Three-Dimensional (3D) Marks – This overlaps with shape marks but emphasises the 3D aspect (e.g., a uniquely shaped biscuit).
Series Marks and Certification Marks – Series marks are multiple marks with minor variations (e.g., Brand-X in different fonts) and certification marks certify goods/services meet certain standards (e.g., BIS certification logos).

Examples of each type for clarity:

Word mark: “Startup Portal” as a word.
Logo mark: A stylised SP design used by your consulting team.
Shape mark: A unique triangular consulting desk packaging design for your service kit.
Sound mark: A distinct chime played at the beginning of your video content.
Colour mark: A unique teal and gold colour combination exclusively used by your brand.
3D mark: A recognisable 3-dimensional stack of books representing your educational content service.
Certification mark: A mark certifying that a product meets eco-friendly standards (if you operate an authorised certifier).

What is a Trademark Class?

When you apply for a trademark, you must specify what goods or services the mark applies to. That’s where trademark classes come in.

Definition of a Trademark Class: A trademark class is a category of goods or services to which the mark is to apply — allowing the applicant and the Registrar to define the scope of protection required.

Why classification is necessary under trademark law:

It ensures organised registration and examination by categorising goods/services in standardised classes.
It helps avoid conflicts between marks in totally unrelated industries (e.g., clothing vs pharmaceuticals).

How it helps identify the scope of protection:

Your trademark protection applies only in the classes you have applied for and been granted. If you select a wrong class in trademark, your mark may not cover certain goods/services and others might adopt a similar mark in other classes.

What is the NICE Classification of Goods and Services?

The classification system used by India for trademark classes is derived from the Nice Classification — an internationally‐recognised standard.

Overview of the NICE Classification system:

It divides goods and services into 45 classes globally.
Classes 1-34 relate to goods (physical products) while classes 35-45 relate to services.
India’s adoption: The Indian trademark regime uses this classification system; when filing for a mark in India, you refer to the relevant class(es) in the classification.
Number of total classes (45 classes in total): Yes, there are 45 classes in total globally and in India under the national system.

Basis of Classification of Trademark Classes:

Classification based on the nature of goods and services:

For goods (products) you look at what the product is made of, how it is used and in which industry.
For services, classification is based on the nature of the service, the branch of activity (education, IT, hospitality, real estate, etc.).

Difference between classes for goods (1–34) and classes for services (35–45):

Goods classes: 1-34. For example, Class 25 covers apparel, Class 30 covers food and beverages.
Service classes: 35-45. For example, Class 41 covers education and entertainment services, Class 42 covers technology and software services.

Detailed Breakdown of Trademark Classes 1 to 45

Here we provide a high-level overview of Trademark Classes for Goods (Class 1–34) and Trademark Classes for Services (Class 35–45), including examples and highlighting many commonly used classes for startups.

Trademark Classes for Goods (Class 1–34):

Below is a summary of major categories:

Class 1: Chemicals used in industry, science, photography, agriculture, horticulture, etc.
Class 2: Paints, varnishes, lacquers, dyes, colourants.
Class 3: Cosmetics, cleaning preparations, hair lotions, essential oils.
Class 4: Industrial oils, greases, lubricants, candles, wicks.
Class 5: Pharmaceuticals, sanitary preparations, dietetic substances.
Class 6: Common metals and their alloys, metal building materials, small metal goods.
Class 7: Machines and machine tools, motors, engines (except for land vehicles).
Class 8: Hand tools and implements (hand‐operated); cutlery, razors.
Class 9: Scientific, electric, photographic, optical apparatus; data processing equipment; computers.
Class 10: Surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments
Class 11: Apparatus for lighting, heating, cooking, refrigerating, drying, ventilating, water supply and sanitary purposes.
Class 12: Vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water.
Class 13: Firearms, ammunition, explosives, fireworks.
Class 14: Precious metals and their alloys; jewellery; precious stones; horological instruments.
Class 15: Musical instruments.
Class 16: Paper, cardboard, stationery, printed matter; packaging materials; artists’ materials.
Class 17: Rubber, gutta-percha, plastics in extruded form for manufacturing; packing materials, flexible pipes.
Class 18: Leather and imitations thereof; trunks and travelling bags; umbrellas; saddlery.
Class 19: Non‐metallic building materials; non‐metallic rigid pipes for building; asphalt, bitumen.
Class 20: Furniture, mirrors, picture frames; goods of wood or plastics.
Class 21: Household utensils, containers, glassware, kitchenware, cleaning tools.
Class 22: Ropes, nets, tents, tarpaulins, sacks and bags, raw fibrous textile materials.
Class 23: Yarns and threads for textile use.
Class 24: Textiles and textile goods, bed and table covers.
Class 25: Clothing, footwear, headgear.
Class 26: Lace, ribbons, embroidery, buttons, hair accessories.
Class 27: Carpets, rugs, linoleum, floor coverings; wall hangings (non-textile).
Class 28: Games, toys, gymnastic and sporting articles; decorations for Christmas trees.
Class 29: Meat, fish, poultry; processed foods like preserved, dried and cooked fruits, vegetables; edible oils and fats.
Class 30: Coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, rice, tapioca, bread, pastry, confectionery, ice, sauces, spices.
Class 31: Agricultural, horticultural and forestry products; live animals; fresh fruits & vegetables; seeds; natural plants.
Class 32: Beers, mineral & aerated waters, non-alcoholic drinks, fruit juices, syrups.
Class 33: Alcoholic beverages (except beers).
Class 34: Tobacco, smokers’ articles, matches.

Trademark Classes for Services (Class 35–45):

Now the service classes:

Class 35: Advertising; business management; business administration; office functions.
Class 36: Insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs.
Class 37: Building construction; repair; installation services.
Class 38:
Class 39: Transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement.
Class 40: Treatment of materials; printing services.
Class 41: Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities.
Class 42: Scientific and technological services; industrial analysis and research; 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 humans or animals; agriculture, horticulture and forestry services.
Class 45: Legal services; security services for protection of property and individuals; personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals.

Highlighting commonly used classes for startups:

For startups in India—especially offering digital, consultancy or software services—the most common classes include:

Class 35 (for business, advertising, administration)
Class 41 (education/training)
Class 42 (IT services, software development)
Class 44 (healthcare, wellness)
Class 36 (financial/fin-tech)

Trademark Classification for Services:

Let’s explain classes 35-45 in more detail with examples for service industries:

Class 35: A marketing consultancy in Pune engaging in business management and office functions.
Class 36: A fintech startup offering payment and insurance services.
Class 37: A construction company carrying out installations and repairs.
Class 38: A telecom or internet communications provider.
Class 39: A logistics company providing packaging, storage and travel arrangement.
Class 40: A custom-manufacturing facility offering material treatment, printing or fabrication services.
Class 41: A training institute in Pune offering corporate training or entertainment events.
Class 42: A software development firm or a scientific research consultancy.
Class 43: A hospitality service—restaurant or hotel or catering service.
Class 44: A wellness clinic, spa, or veterinary service provider.
Class 45: A legal advisory firm, security services provider or personal social services business.

Hence, when you consider trademark registration in Pune, you must map your exact service to one of these classes to ensure proper scope of cover.

Why is Proper Classification of Goods and Services Important?

Selecting the correct class in trademark and ensuring you cover the right goods/services is critically important:

Legal protection risks of wrong classification: If you pick a class that doesn’t cover your actual goods or services, your trademark may not protect you in the intended field. Someone else might register a confusing mark in a different class.
Avoiding rejection during registration: If the Registrar finds that the class selected is inappropriate for your goods/services, your application may be objected to or rejected.
Ensuring complete protection for your brand: By correctly identifying all goods and services and their applicable classes, you ensure that your brand is safeguarded across your actual business range—and also future expansions.

How to Choose the Right Trademark Class (Trademark Classes 1 to 45)?

Here is a step-by-step guide from Startup Portal to help you identify your correct class:

List out the exact goods or services you offer now and plan to offer in the near future.
Refer to the trademark class list (1-45) and the descriptive headings for each class. Use resources like the Startup Portal trademark class finder.
Match your goods or services to the class headings. If more than one class applies, consider multi-class registration.
Check whether your chosen class covers any borderline or slightly ambiguous items. For instance, if you are launching an e-commerce platform selling clothing and accessories, you might choose Class 25 for the clothing and Class 35 for the e-commerce retail service.
Once you pick a class, conduct a preliminary trademark search in that class to see if there are conflicting registered marks.
Proceed with filing the application specifying the correct class(es).
Note: you can’t change the class easily after filing without starting fresh.

Important Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Trademark Class:

Before you finalise your class(es), keep in mind:

Nature of business: What goods/services you provide now and intend to provide later.
Future business expansion: If you plan to broaden into related goods/services, you may want to include additional classes now rather than later.
Overlapping classes and multi-class registration: Some goods/services may fit in more than one class. For full cover, you may need multi-class registration (e.g., Class 41 + Class 42 for education and software).
Cost vs benefit: Each class you apply for increases filing fees. Decide strategic classes that provide maximum protection.
Jurisdictional factor: Although you apply in India, if you aim for international markets later you must align classification globally (Nice Classification helps).
Trademark search implications: A detailed class search (in your specific classes) helps avoid confusion or objections.

Trademark Class Finder:

To simplify the entire process of trademark class search and selection, an online tool like the Startup Portal Trademark Class Finder is extremely useful. Such tools allow you to input your product/service description and get suggestions on which class or classes apply. They help you browse the trade mark class list, the trademark class details, and conduct quick checks on tm class search.

By using our Startup Portal Trademark Class Finder tool you:

Short-list likely classes quickly
Reduce risk of selecting wrong class
Align with your business strategy for growth and expansion

Get Trademark Registration Easily with Startup Portal:

At Startup Portal Business Services, we specialise in trademark registration in Pune and across India. Here’s how we simplify things for you:

Our team of young, diverse, and dedicated professionals brings expertise from accounting, legal, engineering, economics and more—ensuring a well-rounded approach.
We guide you in choosing the correct type of trademark (word mark, logo mark, shape mark, etc.) and the correct trademark class list for your brand.
We facilitate your trademark class search and classification (goods vs services).
We take care of documentation, filing, follow-up and compliance—making the process simple, fast, error-free and affordable.
Whether you’re a startup in Pune or a growing business, we provide personalised support and transparent pricing, prioritising confidentiality and long-term brand protection.

Ready to protect your brand? Apply for Trademark Registration Now with Startup Portal Business Services and secure your brand’s future with the correct tm classes, right from Pune.

Conclusion:

In summary:

You’ve learned about the types of trademarks in India (word, logo, shape, sound, colour, 3D, series, certification) and why selecting the right type matters for brand identity.
You’ve seen how the trademark class list (classes 1-45) works in India under the Nice Classification—goods classes (1-34) and services classes (35-45).
You understand the importance of trademark classification in India, and how choosing the correct class in trademark ensures proper legal coverage, reduces risk of rejection, and supports strategic growth.
You’ve been given a practical guide on how to choose the right trademark class, and the key factors to consider before you register.
Finally, you know how Startup Portal Business Services can support you—especially if you’re seeking trademark registration in Pune—with expert guidance, hassle-free filing, and affordable packages.

Don’t wait for someone else to register your brand name or logo in the wrong class. Protect your identity. Choose the right class. Move ahead with confidence. Contact Startup Portal today and ensure your trademark stands strong and secure.