Content

Classifications

What is new in January 2023?

For patents and utility models: IPC version 2023.01
As of January 1, 2023, the IPC has more than 1,500 new entries. Our "IPC Revisions" subpage provides an overview of the most important changes.

For trademarks: 12th edition of the Nice Classification (NCL 12-2023)
On January 1, 2023, the 12th edition of the Nice Classification (NCL 12-2023) entered into force, replacing the 20221 version of the 11th edition of the Nice Classification (NCL 11-2022), dated January 1, 2022.

For Designs: 14th Edition of the Locarno Classification and Official List of Goods Design (Version 2023 LOC14)
On January 1, 2023, the 14th edition of the Locarno Classification came into force, and in addition, the official list of goods Design version 2023_LOC14 has been in force since that date. These replace all previous editions of the Locarno Classification and the Official List of Goods 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: 2 January 2023