Deciphering Class 26 of Nice classification for trademarks:
Trademark Class 26 is one of 45 Nice Classifications used by trademark offices and brand owners to categorize trademarks based on the underlying goods and/or services they protect.
Class 26 for trademarks a brief description:
Class 26 mainly includes lace, braid and embroidery, and haberdashery ribbons and bows; buttons, hooks, eyes, pins, and needles; artificial flowers; hair decorations; false hair.
Class 26 of trademarks include, in particular:
Hair accessories and adornments are highly used in the fashion world especially recently. Class 26 includes mainly dressmakers' articles, natural or synthetic hair for wear, and hair adornments, as well as small decorative items intended to adorn a variety of objects not included in other classes, for example lace, braid, and embroidery, also ribbons, bows, and barrettes. We mean ribbons used for hair decorations. Those ribbons can be used also for wrapping a gift.
Charms other than those used in jewelry are included in Class 26. Artificial Christmas garlands and wreaths, including those incorporating lights, are included in Class 26. But this gets tricky because Christmas trees made of synthetic material are NOT included in this class but relate to Class 28.
This class also includes some articles relating to hair, such as; wigs, toupees, false beards, and hair nets. Articles for curling hair, such as electric and non-electric hair curlers, besides hand implements.
Class 26 for trademarks does not include:
While some hair-related products fall under Class 26, others fall under other classes including:
Hair prosthesis does not fall under this class, and they are included in Class 10
False eyelashes fall under Class 3
Hand implements for curling hair, for example, curling tongs, and eyelash curlers in Class 8
While pins and needles are included within Class 26, other small items made of hardware are excluded from this class namely;
Hooks and small items of metal hardware fall under Class 6
Hardware not of metal fall under Class 20
Hooks for curtains fall under Class 20
Different types of needles fall into different classes:
While ribbons and bows are covered within Class 26, certain ribbons and bows made of specific material, or used in specific circumstances are not covered by this class and should be applied to different classes, such as:
paper ribbons and bows, other than haberdashery or hair decorations, fall under Class 16
Ribbons used in rhythmic gymnastics fall under Class 28
While charms are included in Class 26, charms specifically used in jewelry and for key rings and key chains are not included in this class and relate to Class 14.
Christmas trees of synthetic material are known under Class 28.
Trademark Classes frequently Coordinated with class 26
When thinking of the Class 26 trademark classification, we should keep in mind that the class has multiple coordinated classes such as:
Class 3: Non-medicated cosmetics and toiletry preparations; non-medicated dentifrices; perfumery, essential oils; bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use; cleaning, polishing, scouring, and abrasive preparations.
Class 8: Hand tools and implements, hand-operated; cutlery; side arms, except firearms; razors.
Class 10: Surgical, medical, dental, and veterinary apparatus and instruments; artificial limbs, eyes, and teeth; orthopedic articles; suture materials; therapeutic and assistive devices adapted for persons with disabilities; massage apparatus; apparatus, devices, and articles for nursing infants; sexual activity apparatus, devices and articles.
Class 16: Paper and cardboard; printed matter; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery and office requisites, except furniture; adhesives for stationery or household purposes; drawing materials and materials for artists; paintbrushes; instructional and teaching materials; plastic sheets, films, and bags for wrapping and packaging; printers' type, printing blocks.
Class 23: Yarns and threads for textile use.
Class 28: Games, toys, and playthings; video game apparatus; gymnastic and sporting articles; decorations for Christmas trees.
Trademark Class 26 and the Metaverse:
Many people struggle to understand the concept of digital fashion since buying and putting on garments that only exist in a virtual environment seems bizarre at first. However, as this niche sector continues to gain pace, many experts are taking the idea of the Metaverse altering the future of fashion more seriously.
The appearance of the avatar is very important to its owner. Class 26 has a direct impact on this appearance because it contains hair decorations, false hair, hair curlers, charms, and hair ornaments.
As a result, this class is just as significant as Class 25. It participates in the metaverse's fashion scene. Class 26, on the other hand, comprises both fashion and decorative products. These can be used to adorn apartments in virtual worlds where house decoration is just as significant as house decoration in real life.
Understanding the main elements of Class 26:
Class 26 Nice classification is divided into the subsections below:
Trademark Class 26 - Subsection - 1 -
Accessories for apparel, sewing articles, and decorative textile articles
Trademark Class 26 - Subsection - 2 -
Hair ornaments, hair rollers, hair fastening articles, and false hair
Trademark Class 26 - Subsection - 3 -
Artificial fruit, flowers, and vegetables
Trademark Class 26 - Subsection - 4 -
Charms (not jewelry or for keys, rings, or chains)
Trademark Class 26 - Subsection - 5-
Needles and pins for entomology