Nice Classification
WIPO has announced the entry into force of the thirteenth Edition of the Nice Classification as of 1 January 2026.
This new Edition encompasses significant changes that deserve serious attention from brand owners and IP professionals.
An Annex has been circulated by WIPO where the changes in classification/reclassification terms are highlighted.
Increased trust in IP – report
WIPO has published WIPO Pulse 2025, which is based on a survey of 35,500 respondents aged 18 to 65 in 74 countries.
The survey found that global recognition of IP’s critical role in protecting innovation and creativity and IP understanding across all categories of IP have increased since the inaugural survey of 2023.
Read a summary of the report on the Class 46 blog here.
World Intellectual Property Indicators 2025
WIPO has published World Intellectual Property Indicators 2025. It found that demand for trade marks stabilised in 2024, remaining at 15.2 million classes specified, while patent and design filings grew by 4.9% and 2.2% respectively.
The report draws on statistics from about 150 national and regional IP offices. WIPO Director General Daren Tang said in a statement: “The continued growth in IP filings also reflects strong confidence in the IP system and the efforts of governments, with WIPO’s support, to incentivize and strengthen innovation. Sustaining this trust requires ongoing global cooperation to ensure a robust and effective IP framework.”
The report is available to download on WIPO’s website here.
Issue 179
The first MARQUES Design Symposium takes place in Frankfurt, Germany on 29 and 30 January 2026
Andreas Lubberger, a member of the MARQUES Famous and Well-Known Marks Team, provides a full report on the recent Judges Meeting in Munich
José Amorim, Sandra Müller and Charlotte Duly of the MARQUES Education Team could not be more delighted to have attended the very first alumni reunion of the European Trade Mark and Design Education Programme (ETMD EP) in Alicante on 24 October 2025
The MARQUES Brands and Marketing Team has published a set of guidelines for companies on the use of fluid trade marks
The expiration of the three-year non-use period following international brand owners' exit from the Russian market has emboldened certain bad-faith actors. These entities are increasingly filing cancellation actions based on non-use while simultaneously attempting to register confusingly similar marks
EUIPO has recently announced a new functionality on eSearch Plus, the opening of the Copyright Knowledge Centre, the launch of Early TM Screening and the details of next year’s DesignEuropa Awards
WIPO has published important information on the 13th edition of the Nice Classification and a new report on trust in IP
The MARQUES Education Team has published an interview with Sara De Toledo about her experience of attending the MARQUES Annual Conference for the first time
Read the MARQUES blogs for the latest trade mark news and analysis from MARQUES Teams. Recent posts include: