Common practice relating to the general indications of the Nice classification headings
The European Trade Mark and Design Network has updated its common practice on the general indications of the Nice classification headings in accordance with European Union Trade Mark Regulation No. 2015/2424.
Documents
Details
Common Practice Notice
This common practice notice is in accordance with European Union Trade Mark Regulation No. 2015/2424. with respect to the use of general indications included in the Class headings (articles 28(5) and 28(8) EUTMR) and gives a common communication on the Implementation of ‘IP Translator’ v1.3.
Network background
The European Trade Mark and Design Network is an initiative to reduce the differences in practices between the national offices and also the European Union Intellectual Property Office. The network provides different options for protecting trade mark and design rights within the EU.
The network has three strands of activity:
- Convergence of IT tools through the cooperation fund.
- Voluntary convergence of practice via a convergence programme.
- A move to further harmonise legislation which is being led by the European Commission.
The convergence work on assessing the general indications of the Nice class headings falls into the second category. It considers a common understanding of the requirements necessary to achieve clarity and precision in the identification of goods and services in an application for registration. The conclusions drawn from this convergence work are set out in the common communication document.