Trademark Class 9: Electronics, Software and Scientific Apparatus
Scientific, research, and electrical/electronic apparatus; computer software and downloadable applications; measuring, signalling and safety equipment; and data processing equipment. One of the most heavily-filed classes for modern tech and D2C brands — but downloadable software is here, while browser-based/SaaS software belongs in Class 42 instead.
What Class 9 covers in practice.
Class 9 covers scientific, measuring, signalling, safety and life-saving apparatus; equipment for conducting, switching, transforming, storing and controlling electricity; apparatus for recording, transmitting and processing sound, images and data; downloadable software and media files; computers and peripherals; and fire-extinguishing apparatus. In practice it is the main class for phones, laptops, televisions, downloadable apps, solar panels, batteries, inverters, wires and cables, switches, CCTV systems, protective helmets and other safety gear.
The NCL 13-2026 explanatory note draws several lines that catch people out. Spectacles, sunglasses and contact lenses now sit in Class 10, as do pulse meters and heart-rate monitors, while smartwatches and activity trackers stay in Class 9. A smart product whose main function is unchanged goes to its own class, so a smart refrigerator is Class 11. Game consoles and their controllers are Class 28, and online non-downloadable software is a Class 42 service. Indian filers include electronics and mobile-accessory brands, software start-ups, solar and power-backup companies, cable and switchgear makers, and safety-equipment suppliers.
Not in Class 9
Goods and services often confused with this class, and the class they actually belong to.
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Spectacles, sunglasses and contact lenses Class 10 ↗
The NCL 13-2026 Class 9 note excludes spectacles, contact lenses and sunglasses, which are now listed in Class 10.
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Pulse meters, heart-rate monitors and body composition monitors Class 10 ↗
The Class 9 note sends these to Class 10, even though smartwatches and wearable activity trackers remain in Class 9.
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Video game consoles and game controllers Class 28 ↗
The Class 9 note excludes joysticks for video games and controllers for game consoles, and video game consoles are listed in Class 28.
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Online software and SaaS (non-downloadable) Class 42 ↗
Class 9 covers recorded and downloadable software; providing online non-downloadable software and software as a service are Class 42 services.
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Smart refrigerators Class 11 ↗
The Class 9 note classifies smart products whose main function remains the same by that function, so a smart fridge stays with refrigerators in Class 11.
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LED light bulbs and LED lighting apparatus Class 11 ↗
Lighting apparatus, including LED light bulbs, is Class 11; only light-emitting diodes as components are Class 9.
What actually falls under Class 9.
The official heading is a legal category, not a shopping list — here are specific products and services from Class 9 people actually search for.
Batteries
Biometric / attendance devices
CCTV cameras / security equipment
Calculators
Circuit breakers
Computer network routers
Computer software (downloadable)
Dashboard cameras
Downloadable electronic publications
Printed books and magazines are Class 16.
EV charger / electric vehicle charging equipment (hardware)
The physical charging unit/wallbox is Class 9 (electrical apparatus). The actual service of charging a vehicle — at home or a public station — is classified differently, under Class 37, alongside vehicle service stations.
Electric switches and sockets
Electric wire harnesses for automobiles
Stays in Class 9 although it is fitted in a car; the Class 12 note also sends vehicle batteries and radios to Class 9.
Electrical wires and cables
Fire safety / alarm equipment
GPS navigation devices
Home battery / energy storage systems (hardware)
Inverters (electrical apparatus)
Laptops / computers
Light-emitting diodes (LED components)
LED diodes are Class 9; finished LED light bulbs and LED lighting apparatus are Class 11.
Mobile app (downloadable)
A downloadable app that users install on their phone is Class 9. If the same product is really a cloud/SaaS service accessed through a browser without downloading, that's Class 42 — many software businesses file both.
Mobile phones and accessories
Power banks / mobile chargers
Protective helmets
Reflective safety vests
Ordinary jackets and workwear without a protective function are Class 25.
SIM cards
Smart watches / wearables
Solar panels / photovoltaic cells
Speakers / headphones
Television apparatus
USB drives / data storage
Video games (downloadable/software)
Virtual reality headsets and smartglasses
These stay in Class 9, but ordinary spectacles and sunglasses are Class 10 under NCL 13-2026.
Voltage stabilisers
Weighing / measuring instruments
Which class is my product or service in?
Straight answers for the specific items people search for under Class 9.
Yes. In the 13th edition of the Nice Classification (version 2026, in force from 1 January 2026), spectacles, sunglasses, contact lenses, spectacle frames, spectacle lenses and spectacle cases are listed in Class 10, and the Class 9 note excludes them. Older registrations show them in Class 9 because that was the earlier placement. 3D spectacles, smartglasses and goggles for sports remain in Class 9. Before filing, check that the Trade Marks Registry's e-filing class search accepts these goods in Class 10.
Class 10. Under NCL 13-2026 the Class 9 note excludes pulse meters, heart rate monitoring apparatus and body composition monitors, and they are listed in Class 10. Smartwatches and wearable activity trackers remain in Class 9, including models that display heart rate. A wearables brand selling both a smartwatch and a dedicated pulse meter would need both classes.
LED light bulbs and LED lighting apparatus are Class 11, because Class 11 covers lighting apparatus. Light-emitting diodes as components, electronic digital displays and television apparatus are Class 9. A company making LEDs for other manufacturers files in Class 9; a brand selling finished bulbs, battens and panels files in Class 11, and many lighting companies need both.
Class 9. The Class 12 explanatory note sends electric batteries, mileage recorders and radios for vehicles to Class 9, and the Nice list places electric wire harnesses for automobiles, parking sensors for vehicles and rearview cameras for vehicles in Class 9. Bumpers, brakes, steering wheels and other parts of the vehicle itself stay in Class 12, and lights for vehicles are Class 11.
Class 9 protects the brand on the goods themselves: cases for smartphones, screen protectors for mobile telephones, chargers for mobile telephones and electric cables are all Class 9. Class 35 covers the retail service of bringing together a variety of goods for customers through a store or website, which matters when the mark is used as a shop or marketplace name selling many products, including other brands. A brand selling only its own accessories usually starts with Class 9.
Scientific, research, and electrical/electronic apparatus; computer software and downloadable applications; measuring, signalling and safety equipment; and data processing equipment. One of the most heavily-filed classes for modern tech and D2C brands — but downloadable software is here, while browser-based/SaaS software belongs in Class 42 instead.
Common examples include: Batteries, Biometric / attendance devices, CCTV cameras / security equipment, Calculators, Circuit breakers, Computer network routers, Computer software (downloadable), Dashboard cameras.
Mobile app (downloadable) falls under Trademark Class 9 — Electronics, Software and Scientific Apparatus. A downloadable app that users install on their phone is Class 9. If the same product is really a cloud/SaaS service accessed through a browser without downloading, that's Class 42 — many software businesses file both.
Computer software (downloadable) falls under Trademark Class 9 — Electronics, Software and Scientific Apparatus.
Mobile phones and accessories falls under Trademark Class 9 — Electronics, Software and Scientific Apparatus.
Laptops / computers falls under Trademark Class 9 — Electronics, Software and Scientific Apparatus.
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