The Most Popular Trade Mark Classes in the UK

· Editorial Team
Nice Classification Data Analysis UK IPO

Not all trade mark classes are created equal. Some attract far more registrations than others, reflecting the commercial activity in different sectors of the economy. Using data from the UK IPO's bulk data release, we can see which classes are the most competitive.

Top 10 Most Registered Classes

Based on the UK IPO dataset, the most popular classes for trade mark registrations are:

  1. Class 9 — Computers & Electronics: Covers software, apps, electronic devices, and scientific apparatus. The technology sector's growth has made this consistently the most filed class.
  2. Class 25 — Clothing & Footwear: Fashion is a brand-heavy industry, and Class 25 has always been among the most popular.
  3. Class 35 — Advertising & Business: This broad class covers retail services, business consultancy, and advertising — relevant to almost every commercial enterprise.
  4. Class 41 — Education & Entertainment: Covers everything from online courses to music festivals, gyms to publishing.
  5. Class 42 — Science & Technology: SaaS, cloud computing, web design, and scientific research services.
  6. Class 16 — Paper & Stationery: Though traditional, this class covers printed matter and publications.
  7. Class 43 — Food & Drink Services: Restaurants, cafés, catering, and hotel services.
  8. Class 30 — Coffee, Tea & Bakery: Artisan food and drink brands drive registrations in this class.
  9. Class 5 — Pharmaceuticals: Health products and supplements are heavily trademarked.
  10. Class 3 — Cosmetics & Cleaning: Beauty brands and personal care products.

What This Means for Expired Marks

The most popular classes also tend to have the most expired marks. This is simply because more marks were filed in the first place, and not all businesses survive or continue to renew their registrations.

However, competition also means that expired marks in popular classes are more likely to be spotted by other businesses looking for names. If you find an attractive expired mark in a competitive class, acting promptly (after proper due diligence) may be advisable.

You can browse expired marks by class using our class directory, or search across all classes.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

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