CNIPA Issues Guidance On Trade Mark Classification

On 29 December 2023, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) issued the Guidance on the Correct Understanding of Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of Trademark Registration.

The Guidance aims to help improve understanding of the purpose and the function of the official classification of similar goods and services of the China Trademark Office in determining similar goods and services in examination procedures.

The Chinese version of the guidance can be accessed on CNIPA's website.

The Guidance explains that the Chinese version of the Classification of Goods and Services is based upon the Nice Classification. It adds the names of goods and services commonly used in China, and develops the Chinese version of Classification of Goods and Services (the classification book).