Trademark for Music Brands: What are the Relevant Classes?
Businesses in the music industry need to be aware of the significance of conducting trademark registration in the UAE. Unlike any other industry, businesses in the entertainment industry are highly vulnerable to IP infringement. Even though we frequently associate the music industry with copyrights, IP protection will be inadequate without registering the brand.
While registering a trademark, all businesses including music companies need to select a primary trademark class as well as other coordinated classes. By selecting an appropriate trademark class from the Nice Classification List, brands are essentially describing the good or service the proposed trademark represents.
World Music Day falls on June 21st 2023 and the timing of this blog seems to be ideal for the occasion. Depending on the nature of the product or service you offer, you can select from the following trademark classes for your music brand:
Trademark Class 15
Brands dealing with musical instruments, their parts and accessories need to choose Class 15 as their primary class. Trademark Class 15 mainly includes musical instruments, music stands and stands for musical instruments and conductors’ batons. Class 15 of the NICE Classification List includes goods such as:
- Mechanical musical instruments and their accessories, for example, barrel organs, mechanical pianos, intensity regulators for mechanical pianos, robotic drums
- Musical boxes
- Electrical and electronic musical instruments
- Strings, reeds, pegs and pedals for musical instruments
- Tuning forks, tuning hammers
- Colophony (rosin) for stringed musical instruments
Trademark Class 41
Trademark Class 41 mainly covers services that include all types of education or training; services having the basic aim of entertainment; amusement or recreation of people; as well as the presentation of works of visual art or literature to the public for cultural or educational purposes. This includes the following:
- Music composition services
- Production of music
- Providing online music (not downloadable)
- Recording studio services
- Radio entertainment
- Songwriting
- Rental of sound recordings
- Sound engineering services for events
- Rental of audio equipment
- Arranging and conducting concerts
- Presentation of live performances
- Presentation of variety shows
Trademark Class 09
Trademark Class 09 is mainly for apparatus and instruments for scientific or research purposes, audio-visual and information technology equipment, as well as safety and life-saving equipment. However, this class becomes relevant for trademarks in the music industry for brands dealing with audio recording products. For example, this Class includes:
- Electric and electronic effects units for musical instruments
- Equalizers
- DVD players
- Ear pads for headphones
- Downloadable music files
- Electronic sheet music, downloadable
- Headphones
- Horns for loudspeakers
- Jukeboxes, musical/coin-operated musical automata
- Audio interfaces
- Audio mixers
- Audio- and video-receivers
- Audio-visual teaching apparatus
Trademark Class 35
Trademark Class 35 covers services related to business management, operation, organization and administration of a commercial or industrial enterprise, as well as advertising, marketing and promotional services. Class 35 is relevant to the music industry due to the following items:
- Online retail services for downloadable and pre-recorded music and movies
- Online retail services for downloadable digital music
- Online retail services for downloadable ringtones
- Business management of performing artists
Trademark Class 38
Trademark Class 38 is for Telecommunication Services. You can select Trademark Class 38 if your brand provides services such as the Delivery of digital music by electronic transmission, Providing access to digital music websites on the Internet, Transmission services via the Internet, featuring MP3 files and music videos etc. The class is relevant to the transmission and delivery of digital music, satellite images, etc. through a broadcast medium such as cable television, wireless communication networks, the internet, etc. Consult with trademark agents in the UAE to assess the relevancy of Class 38 to your music trademark.
Trademark Class 16
Class 16 can be selected for trademarks signifying goods such as paper, cardboard and certain goods made of those materials, as well as office requisites. However, this class is relevant to the music industry as it also includes musical greeting cards.
Trademark Class 37
If your brand is dealing in the repair and installation of musical instruments, class 37 is appropriate for trademark registration in the UAE. This class includes the restoration of musical instruments, repair of musical; instruments and tuning of musical instruments. Trademark agents in the UAE can help you get more information on this class.
Hire the Best Trademark Agents in the UAE for Class Assistance
If you want to protect your music brand on the occasion of World Music Day, you can take a leaf from this blog and conduct trademark registration in the UAE. Furthermore, you can simplify the process with the help of trademark agents in the UAE such as Jitendra Intellectual Property (JIP). We can assist you in determining which trademark classes are ideal for your valued brands.
JIP is one of the leading providers of trademark services in Dubai, offering complete protection to your brand. We ensure your trademark remains protected throughout its lifespan by carrying out a trademark search, trademark watch and trademark renewal services. JIP also offers international trademark registration services through the Madrid Protocol. Contact us for a consultation on how to protect your trademark in the UAE and across the world.