[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 247 (Thursday, December 24, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 80266-80269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32467]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

37 CFR Part 6

[Docket No. PTO-T-2015-0077]
RIN 0651-AD06


International Trademark Classification Changes

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (``USPTO'') 
issues a final rule to incorporate classification changes adopted by 
the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods 
and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (Nice 
Agreement). These changes are effective January 1, 2016, and are listed 
in the International Classification of Goods and Services for the 
Purposes of the Registration of Marks (10th ed., ver. 2016), which is 
published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In 
addition, the USPTO is making a change that appeared in an earlier 
revision of the Nice Agreement and minor revisions to punctuation and 
grammar to conform to what appears in the Nice Agreement.

DATES: This rule is effective on January 1, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Cain, Office of the Deputy 
Commissioner for Trademark Examination Policy, at (571) 272-8946 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Purpose: As noted above, the revised rule benefits the public by 
providing notice regarding classification changes adopted by the Nice 
Agreement that will become effective on January 1, 2016.
    Summary of Major Provisions: The USPTO is revising Sec.  6.1 in 
part 6 of title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations to incorporate 
classification changes and modifications that will become effective 
January 1, 2016, or that appeared in earlier revisions of the Nice 
Agreement, as listed in the International Classification of Goods and 
Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (10th ed., 2016) 
(Nice Classification), published by WIPO. In addition, the USPTO is 
making minor revisions to punctuation and grammar so that Sec.  6.1 
will conform to what appears in the Nice Agreement.
    The Nice Agreement is a multilateral treaty, administered by WIPO, 
that establishes the international classification of goods and services 
for the purposes of registering trademarks and service marks. As of 
September 1, 1973, this international classification system is the 
controlling system used by the United States, and it applies to all 
applications filed on or after September 1, 1973, and their resulting 
registrations, for all statutory purposes. See 37 CFR 2.85(a). As of 
January 1, 2015, eighty-four states are parties to the Nice Agreement. 
Every signatory to the Nice Agreement must utilize the international 
classification system.
    Each state party to the Nice Agreement is represented in the 
Committee of Experts of the Nice Union (Committee of Experts), which 
meets annually to vote on proposed changes to the Nice Classification. 
Any state that is a party to the Nice Agreement may submit proposals 
for consideration by the other members in accordance with agreed-upon 
rules of procedure. Proposals are currently submitted on an annual 
basis to an electronic forum on

[[Page 80267]]

the WIPO Web site, commented upon, modified, and compiled by WIPO for 
further discussion and voting at the annual Committee of Experts 
meeting.
    In 2013, the Committee of Experts began annual revisions to the 
Nice Classification. The annual revisions, which are published 
electronically and enter into force on January 1 each year, are 
referred to as versions and identified by edition number and year of 
the effective date (e.g., ``Nice Classification, 10th edition, version 
2013'' or ``NCL 10-2013''). Each annual version includes all changes 
adopted by the Committee of Experts since the adoption of the previous 
version. The changes consist of the addition of new goods and services 
to, and deletion of goods and services from, the Alphabetical List, and 
any modifications to the wording in the Alphabetical List, the class 
headings, and the explanatory notes that do not involve the transfer of 
goods or services from one class to another. New editions of the Nice 
Classification continue to be published electronically and include all 
changes adopted annually since the previous edition, as well as goods 
or services transferred from one class to another or new classes that 
are created.
    The annual revisions contained in this final rule, which consist of 
modifications to the class headings, have been incorporated into the 
Nice Agreement by the Committee of Experts. As a signatory to the Nice 
Agreement, the United States adopts these revisions pursuant to Article 
1.
    Costs and Benefits: This rulemaking is not economically significant 
under Executive Order 12866 (Sept. 30, 1993).

Discussion of Rule Changes

    The Office is revising Sec.  6.1 as follows:
    The wording ``metals in foil and powder form for painters, 
decorators, printers and artists'' in Class 2 is amended to ``metals in 
foil and powder form for use in painting, decorating, printing and 
art.''
    The wording ``Pharmaceutical and veterinary preparations'' in Class 
5 is amended to ``Pharmaceuticals, medical and veterinary 
preparations.''
    The wording ``goods of common metal not included in other classes'' 
in Class 6 is deleted.
    The comma after ``apparatus and instruments'' in Class 10 is 
changed to a semicolon.
    The wording ``and goods in precious metals or coated therewith, not 
included in other classes'' in Class 14 is deleted.
    The wording ``Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials, 
not included in other classes'' in Class 16 is amended to ``Paper and 
cardboard.'' The wording ``(not included in other classes)'' is deleted 
from the phrase ``plastic materials for packaging (not included in 
other classes).''
    The wording ``Rubber, gutta-percha, gum, asbestos, mica and goods 
made from these materials and not included in other classes'' in Class 
17 is amended to ``Unprocessed and semi-processed rubber, gutta-percha, 
gum, asbestos, mica and substitutes for all these materials.''
    The wording ``and goods made of these materials and not included in 
other classes'' is deleted from the phrase ``Leather and imitations of 
leather, and goods made of these materials and not included in other 
classes'' in Class 18.
    The wording ``goods (not included in other classes) of wood, cork, 
reed, cane, wicker, horn, bone, ivory, whalebone, shell, amber, mother-
of-pearl, meerschaum and substitutes for all these materials, or of 
plastics'' in Class 20 is amended to ``unworked or semi-worked bone, 
horn, ivory, whalebone or mother-of-pearl; shells; meerschaum; yellow 
amber.''
    The wording ``not included in other classes'' is deleted from the 
phrase ``glassware, porcelain and earthenware not included in other 
classes'' in Class 21.
    The wording ``Ropes, string, nets, tents, awnings, tarpaulins, 
sails, sacks and bags (not included in other classes);'' in Class 22 is 
amended to ``Ropes and string; nets; tents, awnings and tarpaulins; 
sails;'' and the wording ``paper, cardboard,'' is added before the term 
``rubber'' in the phrase ``padding and stuffing materials (except of 
rubber or plastics).''
    The wording ``Textiles and textile goods, not included in other 
classes'' is replaced with ``Textiles and substitutes for textiles'' in 
Class 24.
    The wording ``not included in other classes'' is deleted from the 
phrase ``gymnastic and sporting articles not included in other 
classes'' in Class 28.
    The term ``pastry'' is amended to ``pastries'' in Class 30. The 
term ``edible'' is inserted before the term ``ices.''
    The wording ``Grains and agricultural, horticultural and forestry 
products not included in other classes'' and ``seeds'' in Class 31 is 
amended to ``Agricultural, horticultural and forestry products; raw and 
unprocessed grains and seeds.''

Rulemaking Requirements

    Administrative Procedure Act: The changes in this rulemaking 
involve rules of agency practice and procedure, and/or interpretive 
rules. See Perez v. Mortg. Bankers Ass'n, 135 S. Ct. 1199, 1204 (2015) 
(interpretive rules ``advise the public of the agency's construction of 
the statutes and rules which it administers'') (citation and internal 
quotation marks omitted); Nat'l Org. of Veterans' Advocates v. Sec'y of 
Veterans Affairs, 260 F.3d 1365, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (rule that 
clarifies interpretation of a statute is interpretive); Bachow Commc'ns 
Inc. v. FCC, 237 F.3d 683, 690 (D.C. Cir. 2001) (rules governing an 
application process are procedural under the Administrative Procedure 
Act); Inova Alexandria Hosp. v. Shalala, 244 F.3d 342, 350 (4th Cir. 
2001) (rules for handling appeals were procedural where they did not 
change the substantive standard for reviewing claims).
    Accordingly, prior notice and opportunity for public comment for 
the changes in this rulemaking are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(b) or (c), or any other law. See Perez, 135 S. Ct. at 1206 (notice-
and-comment procedures are required neither when an agency ``issue[s] 
an initial interpretive rule'' nor ``when it amends or repeals that 
interpretive rule''); Cooper Techs. Co. v. Dudas, 536 F.3d 1330, 1336-
37 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (stating that 5 U.S.C. 553, and thus 35 U.S.C. 
2(b)(2)(B), does not require notice and comment rulemaking for 
``interpretative rules, general statements of policy, or rules of 
agency organization, procedure, or practice,'' quoting 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(A)). The 30-day delay in effectiveness is not applicable because 
this rule is not a substantive rule as the changes in this rule have no 
impact on the standard for reviewing trademark applications. As 
discussed above, the changes in this rulemaking involve rules of agency 
practice and procedure, and consist of modifications to the class 
headings that are used to classify goods and services in the trademark-
application process. These changes are administrative in nature and 
will have no substantive impact on the evaluation of a trademark 
application. The purpose of a delay in effectiveness is to allow 
affected parties time to modify their behaviors, businesses, or 
practices to come into compliance with new regulations. This rule 
imposes no additional requirements on the affected entities. Therefore, 
the requirement for a 30-day delay in effectiveness is not applicable, 
and the rule is made effective upon the date of publication.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act: As prior notice and an opportunity for 
public comment are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other 
law, neither a Regulatory Flexibility Act analysis, nor a certification 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601, et seq.), is 
required. See 5 U.S.C. 603.

[[Page 80268]]

    Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review): This 
rulemaking has been determined to be not significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866 (Sept. 30, 1993).
    Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review): 
The USPTO has complied with Executive Order 13563 (Jan. 18, 2011). 
Specifically, the USPTO has, to the extent feasible and applicable: (1) 
Made a reasoned determination that the benefits justify the costs of 
the rule changes; (2) tailored the rules to impose the least burden on 
society consistent with obtaining the regulatory objectives; (3) 
selected a regulatory approach that maximizes net benefits; (4) 
specified performance objectives; (5) identified and assessed available 
alternatives; (6) provided the public with a meaningful opportunity to 
participate in the regulatory process, including soliciting the views 
of those likely affected prior to issuing a notice of proposed 
rulemaking, and provided on-line access to the rulemaking docket; (7) 
attempted to promote coordination, simplification, and harmonization 
across government agencies and identified goals designed to promote 
innovation; (8) considered approaches that reduce burdens and maintain 
flexibility and freedom of choice for the public; and (9) ensured the 
objectivity of scientific and technological information and processes, 
to the extent applicable.
    Executive Order 13132 (Federalism): This rulemaking does not 
contain policies with federalism implications sufficient to warrant 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment under Executive Order 13132 
(Aug. 4, 1999).
    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995: The changes set forth in this 
rulemaking do not involve a Federal intergovernmental mandate that will 
result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in 
the aggregate, of 100 million dollars (as adjusted) or more in any one 
year, or a Federal private sector mandate that will result in the 
expenditure by the private sector of 100 million dollars (as adjusted) 
or more in any one year, and will not significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments. Therefore, no actions are necessary under the 
provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. See 2 U.S.C. 
1501 et seq.
    Paperwork Reduction Act: This final rule does not involve 
information collection requirements which are subject to review by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

List of Subjects in 37 CFR Part 6

    Administrative practice and procedure, Classification, Trademarks.

    For the reasons given in the preamble and under the authority 
contained in 15 U.S.C. 1112, 1123 and 35 U.S.C. 2, as amended, the 
USPTO is amending part 6 of title 37 as follows:

PART 6--CLASSIFICATION OF GOODS AND SERVICES UNDER THE TRADEMARK 
ACT

0
1. The authority citation for part 6 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 30, 41, 60 Stat. 436, 440; 15 U.S.C. 1112, 
1123; 35 U.S.C. 2, unless otherwise noted.


0
2. Revise Sec.  6.1 to read as follows:


Sec.  6.1  International schedule of classes of goods and services.

Goods

    1. Chemicals used in industry, science and photography, as well as 
in agriculture, horticulture and forestry; unprocessed artificial 
resins, unprocessed plastics; manures; fire extinguishing compositions; 
tempering and soldering preparations; chemical substances for 
preserving foodstuffs; tanning substances; adhesives used in industry.
    2. Paints, varnishes, lacquers; preservatives against rust and 
against deterioration of wood; colorants; mordants; raw natural resins; 
metals in foil and powder form for use in painting, decorating, 
printing and art.
    3. Bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use; 
cleaning, polishing, scouring and abrasive preparations; soaps; 
perfumery, essential oils, cosmetics, hair lotions; dentifrices.
    4. Industrial oils and greases; lubricants; dust absorbing, wetting 
and binding compositions; fuels (including motor spirit) and 
illuminants; candles and wicks for lighting.
    5. Pharmaceuticals, medical and veterinary preparations; sanitary 
preparations for medical purposes; dietetic food and substances adapted 
for medical use or veterinary use, food for babies; dietary supplements 
for humans and animals; plasters, materials for dressings; material for 
stopping teeth, dental wax; disinfectants; preparations for destroying 
vermin; fungicides, herbicides.
    6. Common metals and their alloys; metal building materials; 
transportable buildings of metal; materials of metal for railway 
tracks; non-electric cables and wires of common metal; ironmongery, 
small items of metal hardware; pipes and tubes of metal; safes; ores.
    7. Machines and machine tools; motors and engines (except for land 
vehicles); machine coupling and transmission components (except for 
land vehicles); agricultural implements other than hand-operated; 
incubators for eggs; automatic vending machines.
    8. Hand tools and implements (hand-operated); cutlery; side arms; 
razors.
    9. Scientific, nautical, surveying, photographic, cinematographic, 
optical, weighing, measuring, signalling, checking (supervision), life-
saving and teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus and 
instruments for conducting, switching, transforming, accumulating, 
regulating or controlling electricity; apparatus for recording, 
transmission or reproduction of sound or images; magnetic data 
carriers, recording discs; compact discs, DVDs and other digital 
recording media; mechanisms for coin-operated apparatus; cash 
registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment, computers; 
computer software; fire-extinguishing apparatus.
    10. Surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus and 
instruments; artificial limbs, eyes and teeth; orthopedic articles; 
suture materials.
    11. Apparatus for lighting, heating, steam generating, cooking, 
refrigerating, drying, ventilating, water supply and sanitary purposes.
    12. Vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water.
    13. Firearms; ammunition and projectiles; explosives; fireworks.
    14. Precious metals and their alloys; jewellery, precious stones; 
horological and chronometric instruments.
    15. Musical instruments.
    16. Paper and cardboard; printed matter; bookbinding material; 
photographs; stationery; adhesives for stationery or household 
purposes; artists' materials; paintbrushes; typewriters and office 
requisites (except furniture); instructional and teaching material 
(except apparatus); plastic materials for packaging; printers' type; 
printing blocks.
    17. Unprocessed and semi-processed rubber, gutta-percha, gum, 
asbestos, mica and substitutes for all these materials; plastics in 
extruded form for use in manufacture; packing, stopping and insulating 
materials; flexible pipes, not of metal.
    18. Leather and imitations of leather; animal skins, hides; trunks 
and travelling bags; umbrellas and parasols; walking sticks; whips, 
harness and saddlery.
    19. Building materials (non-metallic); non-metallic rigid pipes for 
building; asphalt, pitch and bitumen; non-

[[Page 80269]]

metallic transportable buildings; monuments, not of metal.
    20. Furniture, mirrors, picture frames; unworked or semi-worked 
bone, horn, ivory, whalebone or mother-of-pearl; shells; meerschaum; 
yellow amber.
    21. Household or kitchen utensils and containers; combs and 
sponges; brushes (except paintbrushes); brush-making materials; 
articles for cleaning purposes; steelwool; unworked or semi-worked 
glass (except glass used in building); glassware, porcelain and 
earthenware.
    22. Ropes and string; nets; tents, awnings and tarpaulins; sails; 
sacks; padding and stuffing materials (except of paper, cardboard, 
rubber or plastics); raw fibrous textile materials.
    23. Yarns and threads, for textile use.
    24. Textiles and substitutes for textiles; bed covers; table 
covers.
    25. Clothing, footwear, headgear.
    26. Lace and embroidery, ribbons and braid; buttons, hooks and 
eyes, pins and needles; artificial flowers.
    27. Carpets, rugs, mats and matting, linoleum and other materials 
for covering existing floors; wall hangings (non-textile).
    28. Games and playthings; gymnastic and sporting articles; 
decorations for Christmas trees.
    29. Meat, fish, poultry and game; meat extracts; preserved, frozen, 
dried and cooked fruits and vegetables; jellies, jams, compotes; eggs; 
milk and milk products; edible oils and fats.
    30. Coffee, tea, cocoa and artificial coffee; rice; tapioca and 
sago; flour and preparations made from cereals; bread, pastries and 
confectionery; edible ices; sugar, honey, treacle; yeast, baking-
powder; salt; mustard; vinegar, sauces (condiments); spices; ice.
    31. Agricultural, horticultural and forestry products; raw and 
unprocessed grains and seeds; fresh fruits and vegetables; natural 
plants and flowers; live animals; foodstuffs for animals; malt.
    32. Beers; mineral and aerated waters and other non-alcoholic 
beverages; fruit beverages and fruit juices; syrups and other 
preparations for making beverages.
    33. Alcoholic beverages (except beers).
    34. Tobacco; smokers' articles; matches.

Services

    35. Advertising; business management; business administration; 
office functions.
    36. Insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate 
affairs.
    37. Building construction; repair; installation services.
    38. Telecommunications.
    39. Transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement.
    40. Treatment of materials.
    41. Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and 
cultural activities.
    42. Scientific and technological services and research and design 
relating thereto; industrial analysis and research services; design and 
development of computer hardware and software.
    43. Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation.
    44. Medical services; veterinary services; hygienic and beauty care 
for human beings or animals; agriculture, horticulture and forestry 
services.
    45. Legal services; security services for the protection of 
property and individuals; personal and social services rendered by 
others to meet the needs of individuals.

    Dated: December 18, 2015.
Michelle K. Lee,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-32467 Filed 12-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-16-P