Trademark Classes

Trademark Class 8

Trademark Class 8

When filing a trademark, understanding which class your products belong to is crucial. Trademark Class 8 covers a wide range of tools and implements, and knowing what fits in this category can help you protect your brand properly from the start.

Understanding Trademark Classes

Before diving into trademark class 8, it’s important to know what trademark classes are and why they matter. When you apply for a trademark, you must list the goods or services your brand covers. These are grouped into 45 trademark classes — 34 for goods and 11 for services — based on the international system known as the Nice Classification.

Each class defines a specific type of product or service. For example, Class 25 covers clothing, while Class 30 includes foods like coffee and candy. By placing your products in the correct class, you ensure your trademark protects the right things — and that no one else can register a similar name for related goods. Filing under the wrong class could leave your brand unprotected or delay your registration.

What Is Trademark Class 8?

According to the Nice Classification, trademark class 8 covers:

“Hand tools and implements, hand-operated; cutlery; side arms, except firearms; razors.”

In simpler terms, international class 8 mainly includes hand-operated tools and implements used for cutting, shaping, drilling, or piercing. These are typically non-electric, handheld devices people use for manual work or personal grooming.

Common Goods in Trademark Class 8

If your products fall into this category, they might include:

  • Hand-operated agricultural, gardening, and landscaping tools, such as pruning shears, spades, and hoes.
  • Manual tools for carpenters, artists, and craftspeople, like hammers, chisels, saws, and engraving tools.
  • Handles for hand tools such as knives or scythes.
  • Personal grooming and beauty implements, including razors, manicure and pedicure tools, and tattooing implements.
  • Hand-operated pumps used for household or personal tasks.
  • Table cutlery, including knives, forks, and spoons — even those made from precious metals.

Goods Commonly Confused with Trademark Class 8

It’s easy to mix up class 8 with other classes, especially since many tools sound similar but are powered differently or serve different purposes.

  • Machine-driven tools belong in Class 7, since they’re powered by a motor rather than by hand.
  • Surgical cutlery falls under Class 10, because it’s made for medical use.
  • Bicycle tire pumps are in Class 12, while pumps for sports balls belong to Class 28 — both are specialized for other purposes.
  • Firearms and side arms go in Class 13, not Class 8.
  • Paper knives and paper shredders used in offices are part of Class 16, since they’re considered office supplies.
  • Handles for walking sticks or umbrellas fall under Class 18, and broom handles belong in Class 21.
  • Kitchen utensils like spatulas, tongs, ladles, and nutcrackers are part of Class 21, as they relate to food service and preparation.
  • Fencing weapons are classified under Class 28, since they’re used for sport rather than utility.

These distinctions are key to filing your application correctly. Many products seem similar but are classified based on how and where they’re used.

Trademark Class 8 Filing Fees

When applying for a trademark, the filing fee depends on the number of classes you include. Each class adds a separate cost. The USPTO filing fee for applications that meet all requirements is $350 per class.

This means if you’re filing for multiple types of products — for example, tools (Class 8) and apparel (Class 25) — you’ll pay for each class. Most other trademark fees, such as renewals and maintenance filings, are also charged per class. Keep this in mind when planning your trademark budget.

Coordinated Classes Related to Trademark Class 8

Sometimes your goods might relate to products or services in other classes. The USPTO groups these into coordinated classes — a way to identify trademarks that may be related even if they fall in different categories.

This matters because trademark conflicts often depend on whether two products or services are related, not just identical. Goods may be considered related if they:

  • Are sold together or by the same type of business
  • Are advertised together
  • Serve similar functions or target the same buyers

For trademark class 8, the coordinated classes include:

Why a Trademark Search Is Critical for Trademark Class 8

Before filing for trademark class 8, it’s essential to perform a comprehensive trademark search. This ensures your chosen name isn’t already in use or too similar to an existing mark.

A direct-hit search only looks for exact matches in the USPTO database — a good starting point, but far from enough. It misses similar names that sound alike, look alike, or mean the same thing. Those similarities can still lead to rejection or legal disputes.

At TradeMark Express, we always begin with a free direct-hit check, but the real protection comes from a comprehensive trademark search. If a trademark attorney later finds that your first choice isn’t suitable, you can restart with a new name at no extra cost.

What a Comprehensive Trademark Search Includes

A thorough trademark search goes far beyond the USPTO’s free database. Here’s what it should cover:

  1. Federal and State Trademarks
    This search reviews pending and registered Federal trademarks with the USPTO (which provide nationwide rights) and State trademarks filed with state agencies (which provide rights within that state). Both are important because even a state-level mark can block your registration in certain regions.
  1. Common Law Trademarks
    Not every brand files for a federal or state trademark. Many businesses use their names in commerce without registering them, but these are still protected under common law rights. If another company was using a similar mark before you — even in one geographic area — they could challenge your registration. A proper search includes business directories, websites, social media handles, and domain names to uncover these prior uses.
  1. Goods and Services Review
    A comprehensive search doesn’t just check identical goods — it looks at related goods and services. Two marks can still conflict even if they’re in different classes. For example, a tool brand (Class 8) and a construction service (Class 37) might be considered related if they serve the same customers.
  1. Similarity Analysis
    This step compares trademarks by sound, appearance, and meaning. Even small differences — like “CutPro” vs. “KutPro” — may not be enough to avoid confusion. Professional analysts look at these subtleties to minimize the chance of a likelihood of confusion refusal, one of the most common reasons for USPTO rejections.

Working with an expert trademark search company like TradeMark Express gives you peace of mind. Our specialists perform detailed, multi-layered searches to ensure your mark is clear, unique, and ready to register with confidence.

Acceptable Specimens for Trademark Class 8

When you apply for your trademark, you must show how your mark appears in real-world use. This proof is called a specimen. For goods, a specimen shows your trademark as used in commerce, directly connected to your products.

Examples of acceptable specimens for trademark class 8 include:

  • The goods themselves: A photo showing your brand name engraved on a hand-operated wrench or tool handle.
  • Labels or tags: A label attached to a set of stainless-steel knives showing your trademark, along with standard product details like size or barcodes.
  • Product packaging: A box displaying your trademark where a customer would see it on a store shelf — for example, packaging for a gardening tool set.
  • Sales displays: A photo of a countertop display at a hardware store showing your brand name alongside the actual products.
  • Webpages selling the goods: A screenshot of your e-commerce page showing the product (e.g., a razor), your trademark near the product name, a visible price, and an “Add to Cart” button. Include the URL and date the page was accessed.

Each of these specimen types demonstrates real-world use, which the USPTO requires to confirm that your mark is active in commerce.

Conclusion

Trademark Class 8 protects brands that make or sell hand-operated tools, cutlery, razors, and similar goods. Filing in the correct class ensures your brand gets the protection it deserves — and avoids costly mistakes. But before you file, a comprehensive trademark search is essential to make sure your name is clear and legally safe.

At TradeMark Express, we specialize in helping small businesses and entrepreneurs navigate this process smoothly — from in-depth trademark research to application preparation. Our experts make it simple, clear, and stress-free.

Ready to protect your Class 8 brand?
Contact TradeMark Express today to start your comprehensive trademark search and secure your name with confidence.

DISCLAIMER: References to particular trademarks, service marks, products, services, companies, or organizations appearing on this page are for illustrative and educational purposes only and do not constitute or imply endorsement.
The information provided on this site is for general informational purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith; however, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, validity, or completeness of any information on the Site. The Site cannot and does not contain legal advice. The legal information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for legal advice.
Shannon Moore

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Published by
Shannon Moore
3 weeks ago

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