Understanding trademark classification - Class 1 of the trademark manual

Trademark Class 1 is one of 45 NICE classifications used to classify products and/or services. 

Class 1 for trademarks a brief description: 

Class 1 includes mainly chemical products for use in industry, science, and agriculture, including those that go to the making of products belonging to other classes.

Class 1 for trademarks header: 

Chemicals for use in industry, science, and photography, as well as in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry; unprocessed artificial resins and unprocessed plastics; fire extinguishing and fire prevention compositions; tempering and soldering preparations; substances for tanning animal skins and hides; adhesives for use in industry; putties and other paste fillers; compost, manures, and fertilizers; biological preparations for use in industry and science.

Class 1 trademark application Owners:

The top ten applicants who file trademarks on class 1 internationally are:

• Kodak
• Lonza
• Vitatrend
• Ecotex
• Vahine
• Primeal
• Mobil
• Prestone
• Total
• Natural life labs

Trademark common confusion between class 1 and other classes:

While class 1 does include sensitized paper, tire repairing compositions, salt for preserving other than foodstuffs, and certain additives for use in the food industry, for example, pectin, lecithin, enzymes, and chemical preservatives such as in class 2. Class 2 includes colorants for foodstuffs and beverages (caramel coloring, elderberry juice, lycopene, and paprika) and anti-rust oils and oils for the preservation of wood (transyl, flaxseed oil, and tung oil) all coming under class 2. Class 1 does not include chemical preparations for medical or veterinary purposes, or fungicides, herbicides, and preparations for destroying vermin, these are mainly covered by class 5. Many of the goods that fall under the class 1 trademark category might also fall into one of several related classes. For example, chemicals might also fall into class 3 (cosmetics and cleaning preparations), class 5 (pharmaceuticals), class 16 (paper goods and printed matter), class 17 (rubber goods), or class 31 (natural agricultural products).

Chemicals that do not fall under class 1 of the trademark classification:

• Raw natural resins (Class 2)
• Chemical products for use in medical science (Class 5)
• Insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and other preparations for extermination (Class 5)
• Adhesives for stationery and household purposes (Class 16)
• Salt for preserving foods (Class 30)
• Straw Mulch (Class 31)

Trademark Class 1 and the Metaverse:

Anyone in the globe with an internet connection can join the Metaverse. The Metaverse is a virtual world where you may interact with virtual objects in real time while getting real-time information. The Metaverse revolution will have a significant influence on the legal world, particularly in the areas of intellectual property (trademarks, patents, copyright, and related rights), information technology (rights on infrastructures, IP addresses, domain names, and sharing platforms), and privacy.

Changes in the nice classification relating to trademark goods on Class 1:

• Under the 11th edition of the Nice Classification, Chemicals used for use in industry, science, and photography are classified in Class 1. As well as in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry; unprocessed artificial resins and unprocessed plastics; fire extinguishing and fire prevention compositions; tempering and soldering preparations; adhesives used for use in industry; putties and other paste fillers; compost, manures, and fertilizers; biological preparations for use in industry and science are also protected under Class 1. Also, chemical substances for preserving foodstuffs were removed from class 1 and we can see new items included, like gypsum, for use as a fertilizer.

Understanding the main elements of Class 1: 

Class 1 can be subdivided into twelve main components:

Trademark Class 1 - Subsection 1 – 

Filtering materials chemical, mineral, vegetable, and other unprocessed materials

Trademark Class 1 - Subsection 2 –

Chemical preparations and materials for film, photography and printing 

• Sensitized paper 

• Photographic film, not exposed

Trademark Class 1 - Subsection 3 –

Unprocessed plastic

Trademark Class 1 - Subsection 4 –

Adhesives for use in industry

Trademark Class 1 - Subsection 5 – 

Growing media, fertilizers and chemicals for use in agriculture, horticulture and forestry

Trademark Class 1 - Subsection 6 –

Detergents for use in manufacturing and industry 

Trademark Class 1 - Subsection 7 –

Chemical substances, chemical materials and chemical preparations, and natural elements

• Compositions for fire extinguishing and prevention

• Chemical compositions and materials for use in science 

• Chemical compositions and materials for use in the manufacture of cosmetics 

• Chemical compositions for use in construction

• Chemical compositions for water treatment 

• Chemical and organic compositions and substances for treatment of leather and textile 

Trademark Class 1 - Subsection 8 –

Salts for industrial purpose

Trademark Class 1 - Subsection 9 –

Unprocessed artificial and synthetic resins

Trademark Class 1 - Subsection 10 –

Starches for use in manufacturing and industry

Trademark Class 1 - Subsection 11 –

Putties, and fillers and pastes for use in industry 

• Fillers for vehicle body and tire repair 

Trademark Class 1 - Subsection 12 –

Chemical and organic compositions for use in the manufacture of food and beverages