CINXE.COM

<!doctype html> <html class="no-js" lang="en"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://www.wipo.int/classifications/en/","20180813105241","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1534157561"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>WIPO International Classifications</title><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"> <meta http-equiv="cleartype" content="on"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="en"> <meta name="description" content="WIPO international classifications help to organize and categorize the information submitted in connection with intellectual property registrations."><meta name="keywords" content="nice classification, ipc classifications, international classifications, wipo classifications, international patent classification, locarno classification, vienna classification"><meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241im_/https://www3.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/logo-wipo.png"/><meta property="og:type" content="website"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/classifications/en/index.html"/><link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/favicon/favicon-16x16.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/favicon/favicon-32x32.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/favicon/favicon-16x16.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76" href="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/favicon/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png"> <link rel="manifest" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/site.webmanifest"><link rel="mask-icon" href="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/safari-pinned-tab.svg" color="#314668"><meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#75839a"><meta name="theme-color" content="#75839a"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20180813105241cs_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/css/styles2016.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20180813105241cs_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/webfonts/ss-standard.css">  <script src="/web/20180813105241js_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/scripts/modernizr-2.6.2-min.js"></script> <script src="/web/20180813105241js_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/scripts/jquery-min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/web/20180813105241js_/http://www.wipo.int/shared/scripts/wipo-news.js"></script> <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-P7RLS2');</script>  </head> <body class="theme theme--blue" id="wipo-int"> <noscript><iframe src="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241if_/https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-P7RLS2" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <div class="container printOnly"><img alt="WIPO" id="printLogo" src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/header-logo-wipo.svg"></div> <header role="banner"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/logo__wipo-picture-mark.svg" alt="WIPO picture mark" class="banner__wipo-mark m-hide"> <div class="container"><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/portal/en/"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/logo__wipo-word-mark.svg" alt="WIPO logo" class="banner__logo m-hide"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/logo__wipo-word-mark-no-subtitle.svg" alt="WIPO logo" class="banner__logo t-hide d-hide"> </a> </div> </header> <nav class="navigation"> <a href="#" class="navigation-toggle ss-icon" title="Open the menu" aria-label="Menu">rows</a> <a href="#" class="search-toggle ss-icon d-hide" title="Search WIPO" aria-label="Search">search</a><div class="container"> <ul class="navigation__flyout"><li class="flyout-control"> <a class="m-hide" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/services/en/">IP Services</a> <a class="t-hide d-hide" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/services/en/">IP Services</a><div class="flyout"><div class="nav-group nav-group--two"><div class="nav nav--one"> <h3 class="flyout__header">Protecting IP</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/">PCT - The International Patent System</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/madrid/en/">Madrid - The International Trademark System</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/hague/en/">Hague - The International Design System</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/lisbon/en/">Lisbon - The International System of Appellations of Origin</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/budapest/en/">Budapest - The International Microorganism Deposit System</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/article6ter/en/">Article 6ter</a></li> </ul></div><div class="nav nav--two"> <h3 class="flyout__header">Resolving Disputes</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/">Alternative Dispute Resolution</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/">Domain Name Disputes</a></li> </ul> <h3 class="flyout__header">Paying for IP Services</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"> <li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/finance/en/">How to Pay</a></li> </ul> </div></div> <p class="flyout__span d-hide"> <a class="btn btn-info" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/services/en/">All IP Services</a></p></div></li><li class="flyout-control"> <a class="m-hide" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/policy/en/">Policy</a> <a class="t-hide d-hide" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/policy/en/">Policy</a><div class="flyout"><div class="nav-group nav-group--two"><div class="nav nav--one"> <h3 class="flyout__header">Decision Making & Negotiating Bodies</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/assemblies/">WIPO Assemblies</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/policy/en/sccr/">SCCR - Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/policy/en/scp/">SCP - Standing Committee on the Law of Patents</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/policy/en/sct/">SCT - Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/tk/en/igc/">IGC - Intergovernmental Committee on IP & GR, TK & Folklore</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/policy/en/cdip/">CDIP - Committee on Development and IP</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/cws/en/">CWS - Committee on WIPO Standards</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/enforcement/en/ace/">ACE - Advisory Committee on Enforcement</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/policy/en/index.html#bodies">All Decision Making & Negotiating Bodies</a></li> </ul></div><div class="nav nav--two"> <h3 class="flyout__header">IP & Other Policy Topics</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/tk/en/">Traditional Knowledge</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/econ_stat/en/economics/">Economics</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/policy/en/global_health/">Global Health</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/policy/en/climate_change/">Climate Change</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/ip-competition/en/">Competition Policy</a></li> </ul></div></div> <p class="flyout__span d-hide"> <a class="btn btn-info" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/policy/en/">All policy</a></p></div></li> <li class="flyout-control"> <a class="m-hide" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/cooperation/en/">Cooperation</a> <a class="t-hide d-hide" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/cooperation/en/">Cooperation</a><div class="flyout"><div class="nav-group nav-group--three"> <div class="nav nav--one"> <h3 class="flyout__header">Development Cooperation</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/ip-development/en/agenda/">Development Agenda</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/cooperation/en/technical_assistance/">Technical Assistance</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/cooperation/en/capacity_building/">Human Capacity Building</a></li> </ul></div> <div class="nav nav--two"> <h3 class="flyout__header">Public-Private Partnerships</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/research/en/" target="_blank">WIPO Re:Search</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/http://www.accessiblebooksconsortium.org/" target="_blank">Accessible Books Consortium</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www3.wipo.int/wipogreen/en/" target="_blank">WIPO GREEN</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/ardi/en/">ARDI</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/aspi/en/">ASPI</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/wipo-match/en/">WIPO Match</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="nav nav--three"> <h3 class="flyout__header">Global Cooperation</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/global_ip/en/">Global Infrastructure</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/enforcement/en/">Building Respect for IP</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <p class="flyout__span d-hide"> <a class="btn btn-info" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/cooperation/en/">All cooperation</a></p></div></li> <li class="flyout-control"> <a class="m-hide" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/reference/en/">Knowledge</a> <a class="t-hide d-hide" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/reference/en/">Knowledge</a><div class="flyout"><div class="nav-group nav-group--three"><div class="nav nav--one"> <h3 class="flyout__header">IP Databases</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/patentscope/en/">PATENTSCOPE</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/reference/en/branddb/">Global Brand Database</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/madrid/monitor/en/">Madrid Monitor</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/reference/en/designdb/">Global Design Database</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/hague/en/design_search/">Hague Express</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/ipdl/en/6ter/search-struct.jsp">Article 6ter</a></li> </ul></div><div class="nav nav--two"> <h3 class="flyout__header">Legal Resources</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/">IP Laws and Treaties (WIPO Lex)</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/">WIPO Administered Treaties</a></li> </ul> <h3 class="flyout__header">Technical Resources</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/classifications/en/">International Classifications</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/standards/en/">Standards (WIPO Handbook)</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/reference/en/wipopearl/">Terminology (WIPO Pearl)</a></li> </ul></div><div class="nav nav--three"> <h3 class="flyout__header">Information Resources</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/archive.jsp">Documents</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/ipstats/en/">Statistics</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/publications/en/">Publications</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/directory/en/">Country Profiles</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/ipadvantage/en/">Case Studies</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/library/en/">Library</a></li> </ul></div></div> <p class="flyout__span d-hide"><a class="btn btn-info" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/reference/en/">All knowledge</a></p></div></li><li class="flyout-control"> <a class="m-hide" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/">About IP</a> <a class="t-hide d-hide" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/">About IP</a><div class="flyout"><div class="nav-group nav-group--three"><div class="nav nav--one"> <h3 class="flyout__header">Intellectual Property</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/copyright/en/">Copyright</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/patents/en/">Patents</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/trademarks/en/">Trademarks</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/designs/en/">Industrial Designs</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/geo_indications/en/">Geographical Indications</a></li> </ul></div><div class="nav nav--two"> <h3 class="flyout__header">Training</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li> <a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/">WIPO Academy</a></li><li> <a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/topic_type.jsp?group_id=242">Workshops & Seminars</a></li> </ul> <h3 class="flyout__header">IP and ...</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"> <li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/artificial_intelligence/">Artificial Intelligence</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/universities_research/">Universities</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/women-and-ip/en/">Gender Equality</a></li> </ul> </div><div class="nav nav--three"> <h3 class="flyout__header">Raising Awareness</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/ip-outreach/en/ipday/">World IP Day</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/ip-outreach/en/awards/">WIPO Awards</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/ip-outreach/en/tools/">Outreach Campaigns</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/">WIPO Magazine</a></li> </ul></div></div> <p class="flyout__span d-hide"> <a class="btn btn-info" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/">All about IP</a></p></div></li><li class="flyout-control"> <a class="m-hide" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/">About WIPO</a> <a class="t-hide d-hide" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/">About WIPO</a><div class="flyout flyout--shaded"><div class="nav-group nav-group--three"><div class="nav nav--one"> <h3 class="flyout__header">About WIPO</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/">What is WIPO?</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/members/en/">Member States</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/observers/">Observers</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/dgo/">Director General</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/activities_by_unit/">Activities by Unit</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/offices/">External Offices</a></li> </ul></div><div class="nav nav--two"> <h3 class="flyout__header">Working with Us</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/jobs/en/">Jobs</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/procurement/en/">Procurement</a></li> </ul> <h3 class="flyout__header">Accountability</h3> <ul class="flyout__list"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/budget/">Results & Budget</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/budget/financial/index.html">Financial Reporting</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/oversight/">Oversight</a></li> </ul> </div><div class="nav nav--three"> <h3 class="flyout__header">Connecting with WIPO</h3><div class="flyout__list"> <p>Chemin des Colombettes 34<br> CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland<br></p> <p> <a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/visit_wipo.html">Visit Us</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www3.wipo.int/contact/en/">Contact Us</a></p><div class="social"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www.facebook.com/worldipday/" target="_blank" title="Facebook"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/social__facebookx2x.png" alt="Facebook"> <span class="social__description">Facebook</span> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www.twitter.com/wipo/" target="_blank" title="Twitter"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/social__twitterx2x.png" alt="Twitter"> <span class="social__description">Twitter</span> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www.youtube.com/user/wipo/" target="_blank" title="YouTube"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/social__youtubex2x.png" alt="YouTube"> <span class="social__description">YouTube</span> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www.flickr.com/photos/wipo/collections/" target="_blank" title="Flickr"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/social__flickrx2x.png" alt="Flickr"> <span class="social__description">Flickr</span> </a> <a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/news/en/" target="_blank" title="RSS"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/social__rssx2x.png" alt="RSS"> <span class="social__description">RSS</span> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www3.wipo.int/newsletters/en/" title="Newsletters"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/social__newsletter.png" alt="Newsletters"> <span class="social__description">Newsletters</span> </a></div></div></div></div> <p class="flyout__span d-hide"> <a class="btn btn-info" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/">All about WIPO</a></p></div></li><li class="flyout__control flyout__trailer u-text-center d-hide t-hide"> <a href="#tools" title="Go to Meetings, Language, My Account, Media and Contact information">Tools ↓</a></li> </ul> <form method="GET" action="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/tools/en/gsearch.html" class="form-search" name="searchm" id="searchm"> <input name="cx" type="hidden" value="016458537594905406506:hmturfwvzzq"> <input name="cof" type="hidden" value="FORID:11"> <label class="element-invisible" for="querym">Search</label> <input class="search-query" id="querym" name="q" placeholder="Search WIPO" type="text"> <button class="btn ss-search" title="Search"></button> </form></div> </nav><div class="container"> <div class="wrap-outer"> <div class="wrap-inner"> <ul class="nav-breadcrumb"><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/portal/en/">Home</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/reference/en/">Knowledge</a></li> <li class="active"><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/classifications/en/">International Classifications</a></li> </ul><h1>WIPO International Classifications</h1> <div class="content"> <p class="lead">Applicants for national or international IP protection are required to determine whether their creation is new or owned/claimed by someone else. To determine this, huge amounts of information must be searched. International classifications facilitate such searches by organizing information concerning inventions, trademarks and industrial designs into indexed, manageable structures for easy retrieval.</p> </div> <div id="wipo-news" class="content content--news line" data-xml="/tools/en/includes/ocms_news.xml?path=/classifications/en/news/" data-number="2"></div> <div class="content cols--two line"> <div class="col col--one"> <h2><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/classifications/ipc/en/">International Patent Classification</a></h2> <p>The International Patent Classification (IPC) is used to classify patents and utility models according to the different areas of technology to which they pertain. The IPC was established by the <a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/classification/strasbourg/" target="_self">Strasbourg Agreement</a> in 1971 and is continuously revised by the <a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/topic.jsp?group_id=115" target="_self">IPC Committee of Experts</a>.</p> </div>  <div class="col col--two"> <h2><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/classifications/locarno/en/">Locarno Classification</a></h2> <p>The Locarno Classification (LOC) is an international system used to classify goods for the purposes of the registration of industrial designs. It was established by the <a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/classification/locarno/" target="_self">Locarno Agreement</a> in 1968 and is continuously revised by the <a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/topic.jsp?group_id=208" target="_self">Committee of Experts</a> of the Locarno Union.</p> </div> </div>  <div class="content cols--two"> <div class="col col--one"> <h2><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/classifications/nice/en/">Nice Classification</a></h2> <p>The Nice Classification (NCL) is an international system used to classify goods and services for the purposes of the registration of marks. The Nice Classification was established by the <a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/classification/nice/" target="_self">Nice Agreement</a> in 1957 and is continuously revised by the <a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/topic.jsp?group_id=201" target="_self">Committee of Experts</a> of the Nice Union.</p> </div>  <div class="col col--two"> <h2><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/classifications/vienna/en/">Vienna Classification</a></h2> <p>The Vienna Classification (VCL) is a hierarchical system that classifies the figurative elements of marks into categories, divisions and sections, on the basis of their shape. It was established by the <a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/classification/vienna/" target="_self">Vienna Agreement</a> in 1973 and is continuously revised by the <a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/topic.jsp?group_id=203" target="_self">Committee of Experts</a> of the Vienna Union.</p> </div> </div>   </div> <div id="tools"><h4 class="d-hide t-hide">Tools</h4> <ul><li><a class="tools__link" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/">Media</a></li> <li><a class="tools__link" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/">Meetings</a></li> <li><a class="tools__link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www3.wipo.int/contact/en/area.jsp?area=classifications">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a class="tools__link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www3.wipo.int/myaccount/en/">My Account</a></li><li class="dropdown language-switcher"><label class="tools__link dropdown-toggle" for="dropdown__toggle" href="#"> English <strong class="caret"></strong></label> <input name="dropdown__toggle" id="dropdown__toggle" type="checkbox"><ul class="dropdown-menu"><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/classifications/ar/index.html">عربي</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/classifications/es/index.html">Español</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/classifications/fr/index.html">Français</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/classifications/ru/index.html">Русский</a></li><li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/classifications/zh/index.html">中文</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></div> </div> <footer role="contentinfo"><div class="contentinfo__inner"> <a class="self" href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/portal/en/" title="World Intellectual Property Organization"><img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/logo__wipo.svg" alt="WIPO logo" class="t-hide m-hide"></a> <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www3.wipo.int/contact/en/">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/tools/en/sitemap.html">Site map</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/accessibility/en/">Accessibility</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/tools/en/disclaim.html">Terms of use and privacy policy</a></li> </ul> <div class="social" id="social"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www.facebook.com/worldipday/" target="_blank" title="Facebook"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/social__facebookx2x.png" alt="Facebook"> <span class="social__description">Facebook</span> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www.twitter.com/wipo/" target="_blank" title="Twitter"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/social__twitterx2x.png" alt="Twitter"> <span class="social__description">Twitter</span> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www.youtube.com/user/wipo/" target="_blank" title="YouTube"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/social__youtubex2x.png" alt="YouTube"> <span class="social__description">YouTube</span> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www.flickr.com/photos/wipo/collections/" target="_blank" title="Flickr"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/social__flickrx2x.png" alt="Flickr"> <span class="social__description">Flickr</span> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/http://www.wipo.int/news/en/newsfeed.jsp" target="_blank" title="RSS"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/social__rssx2x.png" alt="RSS"> <span class="social__description">RSS</span> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180813105241/https://www3.wipo.int/newsletters/en/" target="_blank" title="Newsletters"> <img src="/web/20180813105241im_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/images/social__newsletter.png" alt="Newsletters"> <span class="social__description">Newsletters</span> </a> </div> <a class="u-line-top u-display-block t-hide d-hide flyout__span" href="#wipo-int">Back to top ↑</a> </div> </footer><script src="/web/20180813105241js_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/scripts/plugins2016-min.js"></script> <script src="/web/20180813105241js_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/scripts/main2016-min.js"></script> <script src="/web/20180813105241js_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/webfonts/ss-standard.js"></script> <script src="/web/20180813105241js_/http://www.wipo.int/export/system/modules/org.wipo.internet.rwd.templates/resources/scripts/wipo.js"></script></body></html>