The thirteenth edition of the Nice Classification (NCL 13-2026) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) for goods and services came into effect on January 1, 2026. In accordance with its periodic update regime, a new edition of the Classification is issued every three years, and a new version of the current edition is published annually.
The most relevant modifications led to the reclassification of some products, such as: i) optical products like eyeglasses and lenses moved from Class 9 to Class 10; ii) rescue and safety products moved from Class 9 to Class 12; iii) electrothermal garments moved from Class 11 to Class 25; and (iv) essential oils are reclassified according to their use (cosmetic, medicinal, or food) in classes 01, 03, 05, or 30. Additionally, artificial intelligence as a service has been incorporated into Class 42, while smart technology products will be classified by their principal function and not automatically in Class 09.
The changes introduced by this new edition will apply to: (i) all applications received by the offices of origin after January 1, 2026; and (ii) all applications received by WIPO from January 1, 2026, after the two-month period referred to in Article 3(4) of the Madrid Protocol has expired. International registrations prior to this date will not be subject to reclassification.
