China Trademark Office Starts Adopting 2024 Edition of Classification of Similar Goods and Services on 1 January 2024

On 26 December 2023, the China Trademark Office ("CTMO") issued a notice on the launch of the 2024 text of the 12th edition of the Nice Classification, an international classification of goods and services applied for the registration of marks ("NCL12-2024"), which, in accordance with the requirements of the World Intellectual Property Organization ("WIPO"), shall be adopted by all members of the Nice Union Assembly.

On the basis of the NCL12-2024, the CTMO has made corresponding adjustments to its Classification of Similar Goods and Services ("the Classification"), which is applicable to trademark applications filed with the CTMO on or after 1 January 2024. As for trademark applications filed with the CTMO before that date, the previous version of the Classification applies.