Content

Classifications

What is new in January 2024?

For patents and utility models: IPC version 2024.01
As of January 1, 2024, around 30 positions will be deleted in the IPC, i.e. transferred to others, but around 330 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 12-2024)
On January 1, 2024, the 2024 version of the 12th edition of the Nice Classification (NCL 12-2024) came into force.

For Designs: 14th Edition of the Locarno Classification and Official List of Goods Design (Version 2024 LOC14)
The list of goods Design has been updated and is valid from 01.01.2024 in the version 2024_LOC14. The 14th edition of the Locarno Classification came into force on 01.01.2023 and is still valid. 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: 20 December 2023