Content

Classifications

What is new in January 2025?

For patents and utility models: IPC version 2025.01
As of January 1, 2025, around 370 positions will be deleted in the IPC, i.e. transferred to others, but around 730 new positions will be added. Our "IPC Revisions" subpage provides an overview of the most important changes.

For trademarks: 12th edition of the Nice Classification (NCL 12-2025)
On January 1, 2025, the 2025 version of the 12th edition of the Nice Classification (NCL 12-2025) came into force, replacing the 2024 version of the 12th edition of the Nice Classification (NCL 12-2024) dated January 1, 2024.

For Designs: 15th Edition of the Locarno Classification and Official List of Goods Design (Version 2025 LOC15)
The 15th edition of the Locarno Classification came into force on January 1, 2025, and the 2025_LOC15 version of the Product List Design has also been in force since this date. These replace all previous editions of the Locarno Classification and the Product List Design.

What are intellectual property right classifications for?

Classifications serve to index the content of documents and thus allow for content-driven retrieval, independent of the language of the respective document or the catchwords used.
Relevant classifications are an indispensable aid for the systematic IP search in the corresponding databases, enabling the most complete search results possible.
In the field of trade marks, classification also serves to describe the scope of protection.
Information on the classifications of each type of IP can be found on the following pages:

Bild: iStock.com/radachynskyi, Picture: iStock.com/radachynskyi

Last updated: 10 January 2025