Trademark Classes · Class 28
Trademark Class 28: Games, Toys & Sporting Goods
Class 28 covers games, toys, playthings, sporting goods, and gymnastic equipment. Here is what it includes, what it excludes, and how to word it.
What is Trademark Class 28?
Class 28 is a goods class covering games and playthings, toys, video game apparatus, gymnastic and sporting articles, and decorations for Christmas trees. It includes board games, toys, sporting equipment, and fitness apparatus.
The theme is play, games, and sport. Note key boundaries: downloadable video games are Class 9, and providing entertainment or sporting services is Class 41. This page is part of our full guide to all 45 trademark classes, and to how protection works across jurisdictions in our overview of trademark law and protection.
Is Class 28 actually your class?
Work out whether your product or service genuinely sits in Class 28 before you file, because a wrong class protects the wrong thing.
Class 28 is likely your class if you make toys, games, or sporting goods
Toy and game makers, sporting-goods and fitness-equipment manufacturers, and makers of playground and gymnastic apparatus. If your product is a toy, a game, or a piece of sporting equipment, Class 28 is very likely your class. Our trademark class search helps you check which classes fit before you file.
What Class 28 does NOT cover.
The most common Class 28 mistakes come from classifying by the wrong feature. These closely related items sit elsewhere:
Video game software is Class 9
Downloadable or recorded video game software is Class 9. Class 28 covers game apparatus and toys.
Sports services are Class 41
Running sporting events and entertainment is a Class 41 service; the equipment is Class 28.
Examples of properly-worded Class 28 goods and services.
The Registry expects specific, standardised descriptions, not vague terms. Here are examples of clear, acceptable Class 28 wording:
| Instead of (vague) | Use (standardised) |
|---|---|
| “Toys” | “Toys” · “Games and playthings” |
| “Sports equipment” | “Sporting articles” · “Gymnastic apparatus” |
| “Board game” | “Board games” · “Games” |
Each entry is specific and standardised. These are illustrative examples of acceptable phrasing, not legal advice for your filing; your exact wording should be drawn from the current NICE Classification and tailored to what your business actually does. Wording is a common cause of objections whether you file in India, the United States, Argentina, or elsewhere. For filing across several countries at once, see our global registration guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does trademark Class 28 cover?
Class 28 covers games and playthings, toys, video game apparatus, gymnastic and sporting articles, and Christmas-tree decorations. It includes board games, toys, sporting equipment, and fitness apparatus. Downloadable video game software, however, is Class 9, and the service of providing entertainment or sport is Class 41.
Who should register a trademark in Class 28?
Toy and game makers, sporting-goods and fitness-equipment manufacturers, and makers of playground and gymnastic apparatus. If your product is a toy, a game, or a piece of sporting equipment, Class 28 is likely your class.
Are video games in Class 28?
Video game apparatus and consoles are classified in Class 28, but the downloadable or recorded video game software itself is classified in Class 9. So a games business may need Class 9 for the software and Class 28 for physical game apparatus, and Class 41 if it also provides online gameplay as a service.
Are sporting goods in Class 28?
Yes. Sporting and gymnastic articles and equipment are classified in Class 28. However, the service of running sporting events, coaching, or entertainment is classified in Class 41, and sports clothing is Class 25. So a sports brand may span several classes depending on what it offers.
How should I word my Class 28 goods?
Use specific, standardised terms such as toys, games and playthings, or sporting articles, rather than vague descriptions. Draw wording from the current NICE Classification and tailor it to your products to reduce objection risk.
File Class 28 in the right country, worded right.
Whether you are protecting your brand in one market or several, we identify the classes you need and handle registration worldwide, worded to avoid an avoidable objection.
