Trademark Classes · Class 15
Trademark Class 15: Musical Instruments
Class 15 covers musical instruments and their parts and accessories. Here is what it includes, what it excludes, and how to word it.
What is Trademark Class 15?
Class 15 is a narrow goods class covering musical instruments, their parts, and accessories. It includes string, wind, percussion, and electronic instruments, music stands, and instrument accessories such as strings and cases specifically adapted for instruments.
The theme is simply musical instruments. It is one of the smaller, more clearly defined classes. 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 15 actually your class?
Work out whether your product or service genuinely sits in Class 15 before you file, because a wrong class protects the wrong thing.
Class 15 is likely your class if you make musical instruments
Makers of musical instruments, whether acoustic or electronic, and manufacturers of instrument parts and accessories such as strings, stands, and adapted cases. If your product is a musical instrument or a dedicated part of one, Class 15 is very likely your class. Our trademark class search helps you check which classes fit before you file.
What Class 15 does NOT cover.
The most common Class 15 mistakes come from classifying by the wrong feature. These closely related items sit elsewhere:
Recorded music is Class 9
Recorded or downloadable music is Class 9, not Class 15. Class 15 is the instrument itself.
Music education is Class 41
Teaching music is a Class 41 service; the instrument is Class 15.
Examples of properly-worded Class 15 goods and services.
The Registry expects specific, standardised descriptions, not vague terms. Here are examples of clear, acceptable Class 15 wording:
| Instead of (vague) | Use (standardised) |
|---|---|
| “Instrument” | “Musical instruments” · “Stringed musical instruments” |
| “Guitar” | “Guitars” · “Electric guitars” |
| “Instrument parts” | “Parts and fittings for musical instruments” |
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 15 cover?
Class 15 covers musical instruments, their parts, and accessories, including string, wind, percussion, and electronic instruments, music stands, and instrument accessories such as strings and adapted cases. It is a narrow, clearly defined class. Recorded music, by contrast, is Class 9, and music teaching is a Class 41 service.
Who should register a trademark in Class 15?
Makers of musical instruments, acoustic or electronic, and manufacturers of instrument parts and accessories such as strings, stands, and dedicated cases. If your product is a musical instrument or a dedicated part of one, Class 15 is likely your class.
Are electronic instruments in Class 15?
Yes. Electronic musical instruments, such as electric guitars, synthesisers, and electronic keyboards, are classified in Class 15 along with acoustic instruments, because the class is defined by the item being a musical instrument rather than by whether it is electronic.
Is recorded music in Class 15?
No. Recorded and downloadable music files are classified in Class 9, and the service of providing or streaming music is Class 41. Class 15 is reserved for the physical musical instruments and their parts, not the music they produce.
How should I word my Class 15 goods?
Use specific, standardised terms such as musical instruments, stringed musical instruments, or parts and fittings for musical instruments, rather than a bare brand or product name. Draw wording from the current NICE Classification and tailor it to your products to reduce objection risk.
File Class 15 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.
