In the vast world of trademarks, Class 36 is dedicated to financial and real estate services, covering a wide range of industries and sectors that deal with money management, investment, and property transactions. Regardless of your profession - banking, insurance, real estate, or investment services- registration of your trademark in Class 36 may give your business the crucial protection needed, so your business stands out and becomes legitimate in a very competitive market. Class 36 is important to give legal grounds to financial and property sector businesses so they are allowed to secure their intellectual properties while providing safety to the clients.

This article will explore what Trademark Class 36 includes, the types of goods and services covered, and products excluded from this class.

What is Trademark Class 36?

Class 36 in the NICE Classification System is a part of the 45 classes used globally to categorize trademarks for registration. Trademark Class 36 services include financial activities, real estate, and insurance services. It encompasses services by institutions or professionals who have to do with money management, assets, and property management.

From banks and financial planners to real estate agents and insurance companies, businesses within these industries profit from class 36 registration of their trademarks. It secures the brand and gets ahead in the market. Trademark registration in this class helps companies protect against trademark infringement. It also protects against unauthorized use while helping maintain a reputation in an increasingly digital and interconnected world. 

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Services Included in Trademark Class 36:

Class 36 is a very broad category that encompasses many services within the financial, real estate, and insurance sectors. Some of the main goods and services covered in Trademark Class 36 are as follows:

1. Financial Services:

• Banking services

• Financial analysis and advice

• Investment management

• Lending and loan services

• Currency exchange services

• Capital investment

• Online banking and payment systems

• Wealth management services

• Tax services and planning

2. Insurance Services:

• Life insurance, health insurance, and property insurance

• Reinsurance and underwriting

• Insurance Brokerage

• Risk management and assessment

• Claims processing and adjustments

3. Real Estate Services:

• Selling, purchasing and letting of real estate property

• Real estate agency

• Property management

• Leasing

• Real estate investment and development

• Real estate valuation and appraisals

4. Investment Services:

• Unit trust funds, pension funds and asset management

• Stockbroker

• Private equity and venture capital

• Investment advice concerning finance

5. Other Financial Services

• Credit card services

• Debt collection and credit management

• Real estate and financial consultancy

• Crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending

• Estate planning services

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Services Not Included in Trademark Class 36

While Class 36 includes almost all types of financial and property-related services, several goods and services fall under this class. The nature of the goods and services places them in other classes. A few such goods not found in Class 36 include:

Banking Operations-Related Goods:

Physical money, coins, or notes are not included in Class 36 but rather are included in Class 9 when used for technological applications or Class 16 when currency is printed on paper.

Real Estate and Property:

Real estate services are classified under Class 36. The physical property, including land, buildings, and building materials, is not classified. These are classified as Class 19 (building materials) or Class 35 (for commercial rental and sales of property).

Financial Products (such as Securities):

Securities, bonds, or other financial products, including stocks and shares, typically fall within Class 9 for financial technology and digital applications.

Legal Services:

Although Class 36 provides insurance and some other financial consulting services, Class 45 specifically deals with legal services associated with contracts, intellectual property, and disputes.

Physical Goods and Equipment:

Computers, calculators, or other hardware used in conducting financial activities fall under Class 9.

Non-financial Retail Services:

Businesses selling goods, like clothing or food retailing, are not classified under Class 36 but in their respective classes, like Class 25 (clothing) or Class 30 (food products).

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List of Services in Class 36 of Trademark

Here is the comprehensive list of services that must be classified under Trademark Class 36:

• accident insurance underwriting

• accommodation bureaux [apartments]

• actuarial services

• antique appraisal

• apartment house management

• rental of apartments

• art appraisal

• banking

• brokerage*

• brokerage of carbon credits

• business liquidation services, financial

• capital investment

• charitable fund raising

• check [cheque] verification

• clearing, financial / clearing-houses, financial

• credit bureaux

• credit card services

• issuance of credit cards

• customs brokerage

• debit card services

• debt collection agencies

• debt advisory services

• deposits of valuables

• electronic funds transfer

• exchanging money

• factoring

• arranging finance for construction projects

• financial evaluation [insurance, banking, real estate]

• financial management

• financial analysis

• financial consultancy

• financial information

• financial sponsorship

• financial evaluation of standing timber / financial valuation of standing timber

• financial evaluation of wool / financial valuation of wool

• providing financial information via a web site

• financial management of reimbursement payments for others

• financing services

• fire insurance underwriting

• fiscal assessments / fiscal valuations

• health insurance underwriting

• hire-purchase financing / lease-purchase financing

• instalment loans

• insurance brokerage

• insurance underwriting

• insurance consultancy

• insurance information

• investment of funds

• jewellery [jewelry (Am.)] appraisal / jewellery appraisal / jewelry appraisal

• leasing of real estate

• leasing of farms

• lending against security

• life insurance underwriting

• loans [financing]

• marine insurance underwriting

• mortgage banking

• mutual funds

• numismatic appraisal

• rental of offices [real estate]

• online banking

• organization of collections

• pawnbrokerage

• provident fund services

• real estate agencies

• real estate brokerage

• real estate appraisal

• real estate management

• rent collection

• repair costs evaluation [financial appraisal]

• retirement payment services

• safe deposit services

• savings bank services

• securities brokerage

• stamp appraisal

• stock exchange quotations

• stock brokerage services

• stocks and bonds brokerage

• surety services / bail-bonding / guarantees

• issuance of tokens of value

• issuance of travellers' cheques / issuance of travelers' checks

• trusteeship / fiduciary

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Summing Up

Trademark Class 36 is of paramount importance for companies operating in the financial services, real estate, and insurance sectors. The registration of a trademark under this class ensures that a company gets legal protection for its brand. This distinguishes it in the marketplace and protects its intellectual property. Class 36 gives your brand the legal framework it needs to succeed in a competitive and regulated industry. It involves investment management, real estate brokerage, or insurance services.

Trademark Class 36: FAQs

Q1. Does Trademark Class 36 include banking services?

Yes, Class 36 includes banking services such as loans, financial advisory, and currency exchange.

Q2. Can I trademark real estate services under Class 36?

Yes, real estate services like brokerage, leasing, and property management fall under Class 36.

Q3. Are investment services included in Trademark Class 36?

Yes, investment services include assets management, mutual funds and stock brokerage among others

Q4. Does Class 36 involve physical real estate property?

Not really because the properties on land and buildings fall on other classes

Q5. What does not fall in Class 36?

Legal services, material products, and securities such as financial products fall among the products that do not involve Class 36.