In Short
- IP Australia’s Goods and Services Search is a tool to help identify relevant classes for your trade mark application.
- Brainstorm your goods and services in advance to ensure all relevant items are covered.
- Use clear search terms, filter results, and consider related or future goods to protect your brand’s reputation.
Tips for Businesses
Before using the Goods and Services Search, list your main offerings and consider any future products or services. Keep your search terms simple and specific, and remember to filter results to narrow down the most relevant classes. If needed, consult an IP lawyer for advice on filing in multiple classes.
Are you preparing to file your trade mark application but need help using the picklist and identifying which classes of goods and services are relevant to your application? IP Australia’s goods and services classification search is a helpful tool. You can refer to it when drafting and filing your trade mark application. This article will provide five tips for using the database to ensure your trade mark protection is as sturdy as possible.
Your business’ brand represents your values, identity and reputation. Learn how to create a successful brand and protect it.
What is IP Australia’s Goods and Services Search?
IP Australia has formulated a searchable list of over 60,000 pre-approved goods and services and has classified them into their relevant classes. This list is the ‘picklist’. You can access the trade marks classification search on IP Australia’s website and can search which classes your goods or services fall under. This is helpful in determining which classes are relevant to your trade mark application and may even spark some inspiration for future business offerings.
Tips for Using IP Australia’s Goods and Services Search
The search tool has helpful hints and tips along the way, but sometimes it can be challenging to find the results you are after. Below is a list of tips that make searching easier.
1. Brainstorm and Write a List
Before accessing IP Australia’s goods and services classification search, it is a good idea to jot down some of your primary goods and services. In addition, it is helpful to reflect on whether your goods or services can fall under broad description (such as “clothing”) or whether they are a bit more nuanced and require further clarification.
If you are starting your business, this could be a good time to note down things you wish to offer soon. For example, if you are starting out as a clothing brand but are considering offering bags and towels shortly, write this down because the particular goods you are selling now and may be interested in selling in the future may not fall under the same class.
It is essential to consider this when you are filing your application, as the government fee for filing is calculated on a per-class basis.
This also may be an excellent opportunity to refine your ideas and distinguish between what goods or services you will realistically be offering and what goods or services might be a pipe dream (for now!).
Once you are ready and have a list of the main types of goods and services you intend to offer, head over to the trade mark classification search tool.
2. Consider Related Goods and Services
When searching for your goods or services, consider any related items that might still be relevant to your business. For example, if you are selling clothing, you might also search for accessories such as jewellery or handbags. This can help you to identify additional classes that may be relevant to your current or future offerings.
This strategy can also help you anticipate areas of your business that may need protection in the future. It can allow you to safeguard your brand’s growing reputation in the marketplace.
3. Use Clear and Short Search Terms
When searching the database, using clear and short search terms is important. This is because a significant amount of the pre-approved goods and services are worded broadly and the relevant goods and services may not show up if you have included a particular search term in the search function.
The search engine is a ‘full term’ or ‘part word’ search, so the return results will include any picklist terms that contain the full phrase as written. If you want to cover several different words you can include the keyword “or”, which will separate each search term and show results for goods and services with any of the words separated by “or”.
For example, you can search “clothing or paint” and the results will show those goods and services that are related to clothing and painting (but not necessarily paint for clothing).
4. Search For Singulars
Searching for singular words like “paint” will automatically render results for the plural of the term (i.e. “paints”). So, you can save some time and search for the singular term!
5. Filter Your Results
You can filter your results to make sure you understand which classes to pick. If you are offering computer software as a good, and you search “software”, a number of service classes will appear in your search results. You can ensure you only see the goods classes by filtering your results in the side bar.
Continue reading this article below the formTips for Your Goods and Services Search
While IP Australia’s picklist is a great resource and tool, you may encounter some challenges. Here are a few common issues and tips on how to address them:
- Too many results: If your search generates an overwhelming number of results, try using more specific terms or the ‘keyword search’.
- No exact matches: If you cannot find an exact match for your goods and services, consider using broader terms that will encompass your offerings.
- Multiple classes: Some goods or services may fall under multiple classes. In these cases, it is often better to be cautious and consider filing an application in all relevant classes. Alternatively, consider contacting an IP lawyer to help you understand which classes are most relevant to your business.
- Expansion: Your trade mark protection should cover not just your current offerings but also those you plan to introduce in the near future. Keep this in mind when searching IP Australia’s picklist, and conduct regular reviews of your trade mark portfolio to ensure all of your trade mark classes are up to date.
Key Takeaways
The goods and services classification search is a helpful tool to identify which classes are relevant and best related to the goods and services that you wish to protect under your trade mark. The search database is quite user-friendly and offers some helpful tips for searching along the way.
If you need assistance identifying which goods and services are relevant to include in your application, or if you have any questions about trade marks, our experienced trade mark lawyers can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on 1300 544 755 or visit our membership page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IP Australia’s goods and services search?
IP Australia has formulated a searchable list of over 60,000 pre-approved goods and services and has classified them into the relevant classes. This is also known as the ‘picklist’.
What are some tips for using IP Australia’s goods and services search?
Some tips for using IP Australia’s goods and services search include brainstorming beforehand, using clear and short search terms, searching for singular words and filtering your results.
Can I use terms not found in IP Australia’s goods and services search?
Yes, you can use custom descriptions if you can’t find an exact match on the picklist. However, using pre-approved terms is less expensive and can help to expedite the process.
We appreciate your feedback – your submission has been successfully received.
