- Goods and services are grouped into classes under the international Nice Classification.
- Your protection is defined by the goods and services you list, so the specification matters.
- IPOS adopted the 13th edition, version 2026, of the Nice Classification for applications filed from 1 January 2026.
- Some items have moved between classes, so older advice may be out of date.
What classes are
When you apply, you list the goods and services the mark will be used for. Singapore arranges these into numbered classes using the Nice Classification, an international classification system. A list of goods or services within a class is often called the 'specification'.
Why the specification matters
Your registration protects the mark for what you have listed. If someone uses a similar mark for goods or services outside your list, your position is weaker. When deciding whether goods or services are similar, the courts and IPOS look at factors such as:
- What the goods or services are used for, and who uses them.
- Their physical nature.
- The trade channels through which they reach the market.
- How far they compete with each other.
Getting the scope wrong can leave a registration that does not actually protect the business. It helps to think about your current products, where you sell them, and where the business is realistically heading.
Too wide can also be a problem
Claiming far more than you use is not free of risk. Registered marks that are not used can be removed from the register for non-use (see our guide on keeping a trade mark registered). A broad list can also make it more likely that your application collides with earlier marks. Since 2022, IPOS can accept the unobjectionable part of an application, which helps, but a carefully drafted list avoids many problems from the start.
The classification changes over time
The Nice Classification is updated regularly. IPOS adopted the 13th edition, version 2026, for applications filed on or after 1 January 2026. Applications filed earlier keep the classification in force when they were filed and are not reclassified.
The 2026 edition moved some items. For example, spectacles, sunglasses and contact lenses moved from class 9 to class 10, and ambulances and fire engines moved to class 12. Applicants are advised to check that their wording matches the current edition to avoid delays or objections.
Planning ahead
If you may later protect the mark overseas through the Madrid system, the goods and services in that international application must be the same as, or narrower than, those in your Singapore application. Thinking about future markets at the outset can save refiling later.
A lawyer can help you draft a specification that fits your business and your plans.
This article is general information on Singapore law and is not legal advice. Rules and agency policies change, and every situation is different. For advice on your own circumstances, speak with one of our lawyers.
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