The international product name for the clothing care appliance sector has been newly adopted as "steam cabinet for washing and deodorizing clothing" and has been published on the website of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The clothing care appliance is a field pioneered and developed by domestic companies. With the adoption of the international product name, it is expected that international applications by Korean companies will become easier, providing a foundation for increased competitiveness in the global market.
The Korean Intellectual Property Office announced on June 25 that the finalized "13th edition of the Nice International Classification of Goods and Services," which reflects the results of the 35th Nice Experts Meeting held in April and May, has been published on the WIPO website and will take effect from January 1 of next year.
When filing a trademark application, applicants must select the appropriate "class" for their goods or services and specify the exact product name. This is an important criterion that determines the scope of trademark rights.
Such product classification standards are revised according to the latest technological trends and industrial changes. WIPO reflects these updates by establishing and operating the "Nice International Classification" as a common standard.
The Nice International Classification is an international classification system for goods and services for trademark registration, based on the Nice Agreement, which has 93 member countries. Korea joined in 1999.
The main revisions reflected in the 13th edition include reclassification to streamline class 9 goods. As a result, eyeglasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses have been moved to "medical devices (class 10)" based on their vision correction and eye health protection functions, while rescue and evacuation ships and vehicles such as fire trucks and lifeboats have been moved to "transportation machinery and apparatus (class 12)" to reflect their essential nature as means of transportation.
Notably, the 13th edition includes several items proposed and approved by the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The steam cabinets for washing and deodorizing clothing, made famous by LG Electronics' "Styler" and Samsung Electronics' "AirDresser," are representative products invented by Korean companies that lead the global market and have recently been recognized as an international product name.
In addition, 11 product names have been included in the 13th edition, such as "washer-dryer combo" developed to perform washing and drying in a single drum, "dental teeth whitening device," and "robotic window cleaner." This achievement means that new products developed in Korea have been incorporated into the international product classification system.
The Korean Intellectual Property Office expects that this will make it easier for domestic companies to file overseas applications, providing an opportunity for Korean companies to enhance their competitiveness in the global market.
Lee Chunmoo, Director General of the Trademark and Design Examination Bureau at the Korean Intellectual Property Office, stated, "The international classification system is continuously being revised to keep pace with rapidly changing industrial structures and technological advancements. The Korean Intellectual Property Office will continue to work to create an environment where domestic companies can smoothly register trademarks for newly developed products and strengthen their competitiveness."
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