A trademark is a kind of intellectual property anyone can claim by obtaining a trademark registration. Trademarks usually represent the brand name, brand logo, or any recognisable sign, expression, or design. With the implementation of the Companies Act of 2013, the popularity of trademark registration is increasing day by day. As the newly incorporated company cannot have the same company name identical to any existing business entities, most companies are obtaining mandatory trademark registrations to protect their brand image and goodwill.
According to the Trade Marks Act of 1999, a variety of goods and services are classified under different classes known as trademark classes. These trademark classes contain a set of distinct goods and services under each class. This makes trademark registration simpler and more practical for both applicants and officials. This trademark classification of goods and services is used by the ‘Indian Trademark Registry’ to classify trademarks in a hassle-free way easily. The trademark classes are assigned to both goods and services. There are a total of 45 trademark classes pertaining to a wide range of goods and services. Out of these 45 trademark classes, 34 classes apply to goods, while 11 classes apply to services. So, the trademark classes for goods are from class 1 to class 34, while class 35 to class 45 pertains to services.
Did You Know? The word ‘trademark’ is generally used to identify both goods and services. However, the trademarks used to identify the services are specially called ‘service marks’.
Trademark Class 15 For Musical Instruments
One of the significant trademark classes is the class 15 trademark pertaining to various musical instruments and other related products. Musical instruments such as mechanical pianos, musical boxes, and electric and electronic musical instruments are classified under this class. Let’s look into the goods classified under trademark class 15, along with the goods excluded under this class.
The goods classified under trademark class 15 are given below:
- Musical Boxes
- Mechanical Pianos and Their Accessories
- Keyboard Instruments
- Percussion Instruments
- Brass Instruments
- Electric And Electronic Musical Instruments
- Woodwind Instruments
- Musical Accessories
The goods that should NOT be included under the trademark class 15 are as follows:
- Goods classified under another trademark class, such as class 9 instruments, are excluded. The apparatus used for recording, amplifying, transmitting and reproducing sound that comes under class 9 are excluded under class 15.
Related Classes for Class 15 Trademark
If you are unsure whether your trademark is included under class 15, you can consider the following related or coordinated trademark classes. These trademark classes will assist you in your trademark search and help you proceed with the trademark registration process.
Trademark Class 28 – Games and Sporting Goods
Trademark Class 35 - Advertising and Business Services
Trademark Class 41 – Education and Entertainment Services
Trademark Class 42- Science and Technology Services
Detailed List of Goods Classified Under Trademark Class 15
Check out this detailed list of goods and related items classified under the class 15 trademark. This comprehensive list will help you find your trademark that is classified under class 15.
- Accordions
- Bagpipes
- Balalaikas (stringed musical instruments)
- Bandonions
- Bamboo flutes
- Banjos
- Barrel organs
- Basses (musical instruments)
- Bellows for musical instruments
- Bow nuts for musical instruments
- Bridges for musical instruments
- Bows for musical instruments
- Buccins (trumpets)
- Carillons (musical instruments)
- Cases for musical instruments
- Catgut for musical instruments
- Castanets
- Chin rests for violins
- Clarionets
- Concertinas
- Clarions
- Conductors’ batons
- Cornets (musical instruments)
- Cymbals
- Double basses
- Drumheads/skins for drums
- Drumsticks
- Drums (musical instruments)
- Electronic musical instruments
- Flutes
- Guitars
- Gongs
- Handbells (musical instruments)
- Harmoniums
- Harmonicas
- Harps
- Harp strings
- Hats with bells (musical instruments)
- Horns (musical instruments)
- Huqin (Chinese violins)
- Horsehair for bows for musical instruments
- Intensity regulators for mechanical pianos
- Jews’ harps (musical instruments)
- Kettledrums
- Kettledrum frames
- Keys for musical instruments
- Keyboards for musical instruments
- Lyres
- Mandolins
- Mouthpieces for musical instruments
- Music stands
- Music rolls (piano)
- Music synthesisers
- Musical boxes
- Musical instruments
- Mutes for musical instruments/dampers for musical instruments
- Ocarinas
- Oboes
- Organs
- Pedals for musical instruments
- Perforated music rolls
- Pegs for musical instruments
- Piano strings
- Piano keyboards
- Piano keys
- Pianos
- Pipa (Chinese guitars)
- Plectrums/picks for stringed instruments
- Reeds
- Saxophones
- Sheng (Chinese musical wind instruments)
- Stands for musical instruments
- Sticks for bows for musical instruments
- Stringed musical instruments
- Strings for musical instruments
- Suona (Chinese trumpets)
- Tambourines
- Triangles (musical instruments)
- Tom-toms
- Trumpets
- Trombones
- Tuning hammers
- Turning apparatus for sheet music
- Tuning forks
- Valves for musical instruments
- Violins
- Violas
- Wind pipes for organs
- Xylophones
- Zithers
Advantages Of Trademark Registration
The awareness of the need for trademark registration is increasing exponentially with the introduction of statutes like the Companies Act, 2013, Trade Marks Act, 1999 and more such laws. There are various benefits one can avail of by obtaining a trademark registration. Whether you are registering your trademark under class 15 or any other trademark class, the benefits are abundant. The various advantages of trademark registration are as follows:
- Valuable Asset
A trademark is a valuable asset to any individual or business. To protect this asset, trademark registration is mandatory. However, with the enforcement of the Companies Act, 2013, now the new business establishment can't obtain the same brand name or logo similar to the existing entities. A trademark is an intellectual property which makes it an intangible asset. As the business expands to the corners of the world, the trademark's value and the brand's popularity increase. It is also a marketing tool which increases the brand image and recognition.
- Increased Customer Base
Once your business obtains trademark registration, a unique brand image will be attached to your brand. Various customers from different targeted markets will start to recognise your brand with a glance easily. With this, the potential customers will become the permanent consumers of your brand. Trademarks will act as a symbol of trust and integrity in your brand.
- Global Recognition
No matter the location of your business, there will be increased recognition of your brand by various people in the market across the world. The brand name or logo will be a reliable factor and marketing tool for the customers.
- Right To Sue for Trademark Infringement
The trademarks are protected and regulated by the Trade Marks Act, 1999. Once the business claims the trademark registration, it will have the right to sue any rivals or competitors trying to infringe the trademark. As the counterfeit brand names and logos are increasing exponentially, the trademark will act as an effective tool and protect your brand image in the unfair competition markets.
- Business Expansion and Growth
With trademark registration, no one can claim your trademark as their own. Your goodwill also increases as the unique brand logo or name is sufficient to attract a wide range of customers. With the unique trademark, businesses will gain a lot of recognition in a limited time and grow as time progresses. Also, the trademark registration is valid for 10 years, which protects your brand image for a long time. However, trademark registration can be easily renewed after the expiry of 10 years as it is also cost-effective.
- No Issues of Constant Theft
When the trademark is not registered, businesses will be swarmed by copycats and trademark counterfeiters, resulting in constant theft cases. Anyone in the market can claim your brand as their own. To expand your business in a healthy competitive market, trademark registration is a must.
Conclusion
The International (Nice) Classification of Goods and Services classified the distinct goods and services under 45 trademark classes. The Indian Trademark Registry also follows this trademark filing classification to classify a variety of trademarks easily. One of the crucial trademark classes is the class 15 trademark which applies to musical instruments and related products. Now one can better understand the class 15 related products with the above-mentioned comprehensive list of trademark class 15 goods. You can also verify other coordinated trademark classes for class 15 as given above.
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