Nice Classification 2026: The Essential Guide for Trademark Professionals

On January 1, 2026, the 13th Edition of the WIPO Nice Classification will take effect, bringing notable changes to how goods and services are categorized for trademark registration.

For IP professionals, this update has real implications for search, clearance, and watching strategies — as well as the long-term management of existing portfolios.

At Corsearch, our priority is ensuring that your protection remains complete and uninterrupted throughout this transition. Below, we break down what’s changing, what it means for your trademark workflows, and how we’re supporting you every step of the way.

What’s Changing in the 13th Edition?

Several goods and services are being transferred to new classes, including:

• Eyewear & lenses → from Class 09 → Class 10
• Rescue vehicles → from Class 09 → Class 12
• Heated clothing → from Class 11 → Class 25
• Essential oils → redistributed depending on medical, cosmetic, or food use

These changes aim to improve clarity and consistency across global classification systems, but they also introduce additional considerations for trademark owners and legal teams.

How This Impacts Your Search & Clearance Workflows

One of the most significant implications of the update is the need for dual-class searching.

This is because:

• Trademarks filed before 2026 remain in their original class
• Trademarks filed after 2026 will appear in the new class

This means a comprehensive clearance search for affected goods must include both the old and new classes to avoid missed conflicts.

Corsearch Recommendations:

✔ Search in Class 09 and 10 for eyewear
✔ Search in Class 09 and 12 for rescue vehicles
✔ Search in Class 11 and 25 for heated apparel
✔ Evaluate essential oils based on end-use

Corsearch’s TrademarkNow and Global Platform, as well as their expert Search & Watch teams, are prepared for this change.

How the Nice Update Affects Trademark Watching

As with search, dual-class monitoring is essential to ensure complete protection.

Because legacy marks stay assigned to their original class, relying only on the updated class could leave gaps in infringement detection.

Our recommendation:

Update Watches to include both classes for goods that are shifting.

How Corsearch is Supporting You Through the Change

To make this transition seamless, Corsearch will:

✔ Contact us to add the new class to eligible Watches at no charge throughout 2026

This ensures uninterrupted monitoring without additional administrative work.

✔ Continue monitoring legacy classes for pre-2026 filings

This prevents blind spots during the transition period.

✔ Provide guidance during Watch renewals

For post-2026 coverage, renewal workflows will help determine whether dual-class monitoring remains necessary.

✔ Update SaaS class recommendations and search tools

To reflect the new Nice classification and reduce manual interpretation.

✔ Deliver ongoing education, alerts, and best practices

Including client emails, platform notifications, knowledge-base updates, and support from Customer Success and Watch Operations teams.

What you Should Do Next

Here are the key steps to stay protected:

1. Review your trademark portfolio

Identify marks that may fall under reclassified goods.

2. Update your Search workflows

Ensure dual-class searching is included for affected goods. Tools like NameCheck use AI-driven Goods & Services intelligence to automatically detect cross-class risks, eliminating blind spots that occur with traditional searching.

3. Evaluate your Watch coverage

We recommend monitoring both the legacy and the new class to prevent gaps.

4. Speak with your Corsearch representative

We are here to help refine your strategy for 2026 and beyond.

The Nice Classification update represents one of the most impactful structural changes to trademark workflows in recent years. 

While the changes introduce new considerations for search, clearance, and monitoring, Corsearch is committed to ensuring that your trademark protection remains strong, seamless, and fully supported.

With proactive updates, dual-class search guidance, and continued partnership, we’re here to help you navigate the 2026 transition with confidence.

Contact Corsearch today and let our experts guide you through the process.