A class is an international categorization of goods/services. What actually defines your protection is the goods/services specification you list in the application - not the whole class. Choose classes and items that match your real current business activities and genuine plans, since both the scope of protection and the official fees you pay depend directly on it.
What trademark classes are
Thailand's goods/services classification follows WIPO's international Nice Classification system, which sorts goods and services into a fixed set of classes. It's used to categorize trademark applications on a consistent, worldwide basis, which makes searching and examining applications easier.
Class vs. the actual goods/services specification
A class is just a broad category. What actually sets the scope of protection is the specific "goods/services specification" you write within that class. Picking the right class but writing a vague or inaccurate specification can leave you with protection that doesn't match what you actually wanted, or get you asked by the registrar to revise it before the application can proceed. Choosing the right class is only the starting point, not the final step.
Why your current and reasonably planned business activities matter
Your goods/services specification should reflect what your business actually does now, or has a genuine, near-term plan to do - not a broad wish-list filed "just in case" with no real plan behind it. A registered mark with no bona fide use for the goods/services listed for three consecutive years can be petitioned for cancellation by an interested party under Section 63 of the Trademark Act B.E. 2534, unless the owner can show the non-use was due to special circumstances in the trade rather than an intent to abandon the mark. Keeping the specification aligned with real use or a genuine business plan reduces that risk.
Why selecting a class alone may not be sufficient
The same business often spans more than one class - for example, a business that sells a product and also provides a related service. Picking a single class without looking at the whole business can leave part of it unprotected. Consider every class genuinely relevant to what the business actually does from the start.
Risks of descriptions that are too narrow, broad, vague, or inaccurate
- Too narrow - protects only the specific items listed; closely related goods left out of the list may not be covered.
- Too broad - may trigger a registrar request to clarify or narrow it, and increases the risk of a later partial cancellation if the full scope isn't actually in use.
- Vague - unclear wording can be interpreted differently than intended, or get flagged for revision before the application is accepted.
- Inaccurate - listing goods/services the business doesn't actually provide and has no plan to, increases the risk of a non-use cancellation challenge.
Filing the same mark in multiple classes
A single Thai trademark application may cover goods or services in one class or multiple classes at once, under Section 9 of the Trademark Act B.E. 2534 as amended by the Trademark Act (No. 3) B.E. 2559 (2016), which repealed the earlier rule limiting each application to a single class. You must clearly specify the goods/services in each class, and official fees are calculated according to the number of items and classes involved, not the number of applications. Choose classes that cover goods/services for which you genuinely need protection - including business activity you're already engaged in and activity you have a clear, reasonably near-term plan for. You don't need to already be operating in every class on the filing date. Prioritize classes by budget if needed - if funds are limited, starting with the classes you're actually using today, then expanding into others as the business grows, is a reasonable approach.
Relationship between class selection and official fees
Official government fees are calculated per class filed, at the rates published by the Department of Intellectual Property: a filing fee of THB 1,000 per item for 1-5 goods/services items, or a flat THB 9,000 per class for more than 5 items; and a registration fee of THB 600 per item for 1-5 items, or a flat THB 5,400 per class for more than 5 items. The more classes you file, the higher your total official fee. These figures are government fees only, separate from Patent To You's professional service fee - see the Pricing page for our full service rates.
Can goods or services be added after filing
As a general rule, you cannot add new goods/services or classes to an application once it has been filed. To expand protection to additional goods/services or classes, you generally need to file a new, separate application. It's worth thinking through the full specification and classes you need before your first filing, and confirming current procedure with a trademark agent or the Department of Intellectual Property before filing, since procedural details can be updated over time.
Practical examples for common SME businesses
- Restaurants/beverage businesses - typically involve both a food/beverage goods class and a restaurant-services class. If you also sell your own branded products (like sauces or snacks), you may need to consider that goods class too.
- Clothing/fashion businesses - mainly the clothing class. If you also run online sales or retail under the same brand, you may need to consider a retail-services class too.
- Service businesses (consulting, maintenance, etc.) - usually fall under the services class matching the type of work; describe the scope of service clearly to match what you actually provide.
- Apps/software - may involve both a software/digital-goods class and the services class the software actually provides, depending on the business model.
Decision Checklist
- Not sure which class your business falls under - list what you actually do and what you have a genuine near-term plan to do, then match it to the relevant classes.
- Business spans multiple classes but budget is limited - prioritize by revenue or real business plans, starting with the classes you're already using.
- Not sure if your goods/services specification is too narrow or too broad - have a trademark agent review it before filing, since revising it after filing is limited.
- Planning future expansion - decide whether classes you'll need later should be filed now or added later as a separate application when plans firm up, since adding to an existing application generally isn't possible.
