All goods or services are categorized within International Classes (IC hereafter). Goods fall within the IC 1-34 class, while services are in IC 35 to 45. We will now take a look at class 18, one of the trademark classes.
What does International Class 18 mean?
The short title of each class gives a glimpse into the subject matter. IC 18’s title is leather products. There’s much more, just like any trademark. There are 447 approved descriptions by the USPTO that can be used to fit within IC 18.
This short title leather goods is misleading because there are many other items which aren’t leather and that fall under this category. Handbags, bags, purses and backpacks as well wallets and luggage are all included in IC 18. All items are classified under IC 18 regardless of whether they’re made from leather. There are a few exceptions, such as paper bags and cloth bags for storage or laundry (IC 16), as well as bags that can be used to carry sports equipment (IC 28), such as bags designed for golfing (IC 28), and bags for other purposes (IC 22).
What is International Class 18’s Other Elements?
Is it any other trademark class? IC 18 seems to have an oddity. Here are a few items living in IC 18 that seem a bit off:
o artificial fur
o wading staff
o Bitter tasting pet training aid in the form of a spray to prevent pets from licking, chewing and biting on objects
o alpenstock
What’s New for International Class 18?
New goods and services are constantly added to the classification guide. The trademark office needs to adapt as the market changes. Here are some of the 2009 listings for international class 18, good plus date added to the guide:
o All-purpose reusable carrying bags 26 Mar 09
o Carriers for suits, shirts and dresses 02 Jul 09
o Dry bags 02 Apr 09
o Pet products, namely, pet restraining devices consisting of leashes, collars, harnesses, restraining straps, and leashes with locking devices 4 Jun 09