Locarno Classification

GUIDANCE FOR THE USER[1]

Version 2.1.

1.         The Locarno Classification consists of a list of classes and subclasses with, as the case may be, explanatory notes, and a list of goods with an indication of the class and subclass in which each good is classified (see Article 1(3) of the Locarno Agreement).

Class and Subclass Headings

2.         The Class Headings indicate in a general manner the fields to which the goods in principle belong.

3.         The Subclass Headings give further specification as to the type of goods included in each class.

Explanatory Notes and General Remarks

4.         For ascertaining the correct classification of a good, the Explanatory Notes relating to the various classes and subclasses, as well as the List of Goods should be consulted.

5.         The Explanatory Notes can refer to a class or a subclass.  The notes of a class apply to all subclasses within that class.

6.         If a good cannot be classified with the aid of the List of Classes and Subclasses, the Explanatory Notes and the List of Goods, the General Remarks set forth the criteria that should be applied.

List of Goods

7.         The List of Goods is presented in class and subclass order in the “Classes” tab and in alphabetical order in the “Alphabetical” tab.  Each indication of good has a six-digit identification number (ID No.).  Different indications of the same good (synonyms or indications with variant spellings) share the same ID No.  The ID No. enables the user to find the equivalent good in the lists of goods of other language versions of the Classification.

(i)  List of Goods in class order (“Classes” tab)

8.         The list is presented in two columns; the first column shows the ID No. for each good and the second column shows the indication of the good.  When an indication has synonyms and/or spelling variants, the second column contains the master indication on the first line, and the synonyms and/or spelling variants on the following lines, e.g.:

Class 03-01

ID No.           Indication                      

100325           Vanity cases

Toilet cases

9.         The alphabetical order within the subclass is determined by the first word of the master indication, in the example above “Vanity”.

10.       In the bilingual version (English/French), the list is presented in three columns, the third column containing the French version of the English indication appearing in the second column, e.g.:

Class 03-01 ID No.	Indication (EN)	Indication (FR)
100325	Vanity cases Toilet cases	Vanity-cases Nécessaires de toilette [contenants]

(ii)  List of Goods in alphabetical order (“Alphabetical” tab)

11.       The list is presented in three columns, under each letter of the alphabet; the first column shows the class and subclass to which each good belongs, the second column shows the indication of the good, and the third column shows the ID No. for each good.  The alphabetical order is determined by the first word of each indication, whether master, synonym or spelling variant, e.g.:

Letter T

Cl.-Subcl.     Indication                                     ID No.

03-01             Toilet cases                                  100325

Letter V

Cl.-Subcl.     Indication                                     ID No.

03-01             Vanity cases                                 100325

12.       In the bilingual version (English/French), the list is presented in four columns, the fourth column containing the master indication in French of the English indication(s) appearing in the second column, e.g.:

Letter T

Cl.-Subcl.     Indication (EN)                            ID No.                  Indication (FR)

03-01             Toilet cases                                  100325                  Vanity-cases

Letter V

Cl.-Subcl.     Indication (EN)                            ID No.                  Indication (FR)

03-01             Vanity cases                                 100325                  Vanity-cases

Square brackets

13.       In the List of Goods, an expression between square brackets is in most cases intended to define more precisely the text preceding the brackets, since the said text is ambiguous or too vague for classification purposes.

EPIC

14.       An Extended Product Indication Classification (EPIC)[2] has been incorporated into LOCPUB and can be consulted when using the “Classes” tab in view mode “EPIC” or “LOC+EPIC”.  EPIC organizes goods that share some common characteristics in hierarchical groups within each subclass of the Locarno Classification.  The “EPIC” mode of view shows the complete structure for each class and subclass, while the “LOC+EPIC” mode of view shows that same structure with the goods of the Locarno Classification arranged in each EPIC group.

15.       It should be noted that EPIC is made available in LOCPUB in order to provide the user with an additional tool that can assist him in understanding what type of goods belong in each class and subclass, and in searching for adequate terms to indicate goods in applications for the registration of designs.  EPIC does not form part of the official text of the Locarno Classification and therefore has no legal effect in design examination.

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[1] This guidance is about using the Locarno Classification.  Information about using LOCPUB can be obtained by clicking on “Help” in the upper right-hand corner of LOCPUB.

[2] EPIC has been created by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and national offices of the European Union, in collaboration with WIPO.