Legal Definitions - ISCGS

ISCGS stands for the International Schedule of Classes of Goods and Services.

This is a globally recognized system used by trademark offices to classify goods and services when businesses apply to register a trademark. Essentially, it's a standardized list that divides all possible goods and services into 45 distinct categories (or "classes"). When a company wants to protect its brand name or logo, they must specify which of these classes their goods or services fall into. This helps to organize trademark applications, prevent confusion, and ensure consistency in trademark protection across different countries.

Here are a few examples to illustrate how the ISCGS works:

• Imagine a new company launching a brand of organic skincare products called "Botanical Glow." When they apply to trademark this name, they would need to specify that their products fall under Class 3 of the ISCGS, which covers "cosmetics and cleaning preparations." This classification ensures their trademark protects "Botanical Glow" specifically for items like lotions, soaps, and perfumes, rather than, for instance, for software or furniture.

• Consider a tech startup developing an innovative new mobile application designed to help users manage their personal finances, named "MoneyWise." To protect their app's name, they would register their trademark under Class 9 of the ISCGS, which includes "computer software" and "electronic publications." This clearly defines that their trademark protection is for a software product, distinguishing it from a financial advisory service or a book about money management.

• Suppose a chef decides to open a chain of gourmet sandwich shops called "The Daily Bread." When applying for a trademark for their business name and logo, they would classify their services under Class 43 of the ISCGS, which covers "services for providing food and drink" and "temporary accommodation." This ensures their trademark protects "The Daily Bread" in the context of restaurant and catering services, preventing others from using the same name for a similar food establishment.