How do China trademark classes and subclasses work?
China uses the Nice Classification together with detailed accepted goods and services and similarity groupings in examination practice. Protection depends on the selected items, not on the class number alone.
Why it matters
Put the question in the right procedure and timeline
China trademark work is driven by filing position, the selected goods and services, and procedural stage. As of 29 July 2026, the 2019 Trademark Law remains operative; the revised 2026 law takes effect on 1 January 2027.
What changes the answer
What can change the answer
Map every current and planned product to accepted terms, then check coverage across relevant similarity groups. Avoid copying an overseas list without adaptation.
Do not act on the summary alone for a live matter. An official record, service date, document version, party identity or transitional rule can change the conclusion.
What to prepare
Prepare these three points
- 01
A product catalogue with current and next-stage China offerings, not class numbers alone.
- 02
Sales channels, customer groups and any retail, marketplace or software services provided to others.
- 03
Any existing overseas or China specifications to compare against current accepted CNIPA terms.
Next step
Apply the answer to your actual record
Search the proposed marks and identify conflicts by goods and services.
Check whether this fact changes the answer: Map every current and planned product to accepted terms, then check coverage across relevant similarity groups. Avoid copying an overseas list without adaptation.
Calendar examination, opposition, review and renewal milestones.
Official sources
Official sources used for this article
These links lead to original CNIPA, WIPO or Supreme People's Court materials. Check the latest text, effective date and matter-specific procedure when acting.
- CNIPA Guidance on classification of trademark goods and services
- CNIPA Trademark Law of the People's Republic of China, 2019 text
Prepared and checked by Zhiquan IP against the listed primary materials. Cross-check the organization and contact details on the Credentials page.