Trademark Registration – Classification Guide Class 15 in Japan

I’ve decided to start selling musical instruments.
To begin with, I’ve prepared an impactful product name and logo for the products, and I’d like to register it as a trademark so that others can’t copy it.

Then, please remember to designate Class 15 which includes “musical instruments”!
Class 15 includes many products related to musical instruments and their parts and accessories. Let’s check it out.

Considering the future product development of sales of musical instruments, I think it would be better to designate other products in Class 15 as well.
If it’s in the same class, the cost is the same, but I wonder if it’s possible to designate music scores or retail services for musical instruments in Class 15…?

Class 15 is a category of musical instruments and their parts and accessories

Class 15 mainly includes musical instruments and their parts and accessories.

In general, it may be easier to understand if you think of products such as music stands, conductors’ batons, and tuning apparatus for musical instruments as well as musical instruments.

Goods included in Class 15 and NOT included in Class 15

List of main goods in Class 15

The main goods included in Class 15 are listed below.

These goods can be designated in Amazing DX.

• tuning apparatus for musical instruments
• musical instruments; music stands; conductors' batons; tuning forks

The above list of “main goods included in Class 15” is just an example.

Let’s take a closer look at what other goods are included in Class 15 and what goods are not.

What should you do if you want to designate such items? (Goods included in Class 15)

Goods related to musical instruments.

When you want to designate such a product in Amazing DX, please designate “musical instruments”.

For example,

Goods related to tuning apparatus for musical instruments

When you want to designate such a product in Amazing DX, please designate “tuning apparatus for musical instruments”.

For example,

Others

If you would like to specify the following goods or other items in Amazing DX, please contact our patent attorneys via chat.

• colophony for stringed musical instruments

Goods/services Not included in Class 15

Some goods and services related to musical instruments

• electric and electronic effects units for musical instruments; metronome [Class 9]
• toy musical instruments [Class 28]
• retail services or wholesale services for musical instruments and records [Class 35]
• repair or maintenance of musical instruments [Class 37]
• rental of musical instruments [Class 41]

I see, some goods related to musical instruments may be in a separate class depending on the product.
And, the services related to musical instruments also classifies differently.

Yes, if you plan to expand your music business beyond musical instruments, you have to specify other classes as well.

Other goods/services NOT included in Class 15

• printed matter (ex: printed sheet music) [Class 16]
• educational and instruction services relating to arts, crafts, sports or general knowledge (ex: piano instruction; music education; etc.) [Class 41]

I see the sheet music and instruction at music schools are not in Class 15!

File a trademark application in Japan, designating goods in Class 15!

Class 15 is a classification for musical instruments and their parts and accessories. If you are an instrument manufacturer, you may want to consider filing a trademark application in Class 15 first.

Amazing DX allows you to easily select your designated goods and services online.

First, please select as many goods and services as possible. After the search, it is easy to exclude the goods marked with × and search again.

If you are not sure which goods or services to select, please feel free to contact us via chat. Our attorneys specializing in trademarks will be happy to answer your questions.