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Trademark Class 18: Leather, Luggage & Travel Accessories
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Overview of Class 18
Trademark Class 18 is the primary category for leather, imitations of leather, and products made from these materials. Under the Nice Classification, this class includes luggage, carrying bags, umbrellas, walking sticks, and saddlery. It is a vital class for India’s robust leather export and domestic retail industries.
Registering in Class 18 is essential for brands dealing in handbags, wallets, suitcases, and pet accessories. Whether you are a boutique artisan or a global luggage manufacturer, a Class 18 trademark provides exclusive rights to your brand name, protecting it from counterfeiting and unauthorized imitation. Given that India is a global hub for leather production, securing your IP in this class is a strategic necessity for brand equity and export readiness.
What is included?
- •Luggage & Bags: Suitcases, trunks, backpacks, and duffle bags
- •Handbags & Purses: Clutches, wallets, billfolds, and card cases
- •Leather Goods: Leather straps, thongs, and unworked/semi-worked leather
- •Travel Accessories: Luggage tags, vanity cases, and garment bags
- •Umbrellas: Parasols, umbrella covers, and frames
- •Animal Accessories: Pet collars, leashes, muzzles, and clothing for pets
- •Saddlery: Saddles, harnesses, whips, and riding crops
- •Walking Sticks: Canes, alpenstocks, and walking stick handles
What is excluded?
- •Clothing and footwear made of leather (Class 25)
- •Leather jackets and belts for wear (Class 25)
- •Surgical or medical bags (Class 10)
- •Bags for specific items like cameras or laptops (Class 9)
- •Leather furniture or trimmings for furniture (Class 20)
- •Chamois leather for cleaning (Class 21)
- •Retail services for leather goods (Class 35)
The Economic Power of Class 18 in India
India is one of the world’s top producers and exporters of leather goods. With the domestic market projected to reach over $25 billion by 2030, Class 18 registration has become a cornerstone of business strategy for Indian entrepreneurs.
Proper classification ensures that your mark is protected where it matters most. While "Leather Jackets" go in Class 25, the "Leather Handbags" they are paired with must be registered in Class 18. Multi-class filing is often recommended for comprehensive fashion brand protection.
Class 18 also covers "Imitation leather" or vegan leather. As sustainable and ethical fashion grows, brands using synthetic alternatives still rely on Class 18 to protect their brand identity.
Major Categories in Class 18
| Category | Specific Examples |
|---|---|
| Luggage | Trolley bags, Suitcases, Travelling trunks, Duffle bags |
| Carrying Bags | Backpacks, School bags, Handbags, Shopping bags |
| Small Leatherware | Wallets, Purses, Credit card cases, Key cases |
| Pet Products | Collars, Leashes, Dog jackets, Muzzles, Harnesses |
| Riding Gear | Saddles, Whips, Bridles, Stirrups, Horse blankets |
| Rain Protection | Umbrellas, Parasols, Umbrella handles and ribs |
| Materials | Animal skins, Hides, Raw leather, Imitation leather |
Alphabetical List of Class 18 Items
- Alpenstocks / mountaineering sticks
- Animal skins / pelts
- Attaché cases
- Bags for climbers
- Bags for campers
- Bags [envelopes, pouches] of leather, for packaging
- Bags for sports
- Beach bags
- Bits for animals [harness]
- Blinkers [harness]
- Boxes of leather or leatherboard
- Boxes of vulcanized fiber
- Bridles [harness]
- Briefcases
- Business card cases
- Butts [parts of hides]
- Canes / walking sticks
- Card cases [notecases]
- Cases of leather or leatherboard
- Chain mesh purses
- Chamois leather, other than for cleaning
- Chin straps, of leather
- Collars for animals
- Covers for animals / clothing for pets
- Credit card cases [wallets]
- Curried skins
- Fastenings for saddles
- Frames for umbrellas or parasols
- Fur / fur-skins
- Furniture coverings of leather
- Game bags [hunting accessories]
- Garment bags for travel
- Girths of leather
- Goldbeaters’ skin
- Halters / head-stalls
- Handbag frames
- Handbags
- Harness straps
- Harness for animals
- Hat boxes of leather
- Haversacks
- Horse collars
- Horse blankets
- Horseshoes
- Imitation leather
- Key cases
- Knee-pads for horses
- Leather leashes / leather leads
- Leather laces
- Leather straps / leather thongs
- Leather, unworked or semi-worked
- Leather thread
- Leatherboard
- Moleskin [imitation of leather]
- Music cases
- Muzzles
- Net bags for shopping
- Nose bags [feed bags]
- Pads for horse saddles
- Parasols
- Pocket wallets
- Pouch baby carriers
- Purses
- Reins
- Riding saddles
- Rucksacks / backpacks
- Saddle trees
- Saddlery
- School bags / school satchels
- Shopping bags
- Shoulder belts [straps] of leather
- Sling bags for carrying infants
- Stirrup leathers
- Stirrups
- Straps of leather [saddlery]
- Suitcase handles
- Suitcases
- Tool bags of leather, empty
- Traces [harness]
- Travelling trunks
- Travelling bags
- Travelling sets [leatherware]
- Trimmings of leather for furniture
- Trunks [luggage]
- Umbrella rings
- Umbrella ribs
- Umbrella sticks
- Umbrella covers
- Umbrella handles
- Umbrellas
- Valises
- Vanity cases, not fitted
- Walking stick handles
- Wheeled shopping bags
- Whips
Trademark Registration & Objections
- 1. Search: Always check the Indian public search portal for Class 18 and Class 25 to avoid conflicts with fashion brands.
- 2. Descriptiveness: Avoid generic names like "GENUINE LEATHER BAGS" which will be rejected under Section 9.
- 3. Confusion: If your brand name sounds like an existing luggage brand (e.g., "ROYALBAG" vs "ROYAL BAG"), the Registrar will object under Section 11.
- 4. Filing: Use Form TM-A and provide a detailed list of goods. Specify whether they are leather, imitation leather, or animal skins.
- 5. Timeline: Expect 18 to 24 months for full registration, including the 4-month window for third-party oppositions.
Global Parallels & Exports
Class 18 is globally consistent under the Nice Classification. A trademark registered in Class 18 in India can be used as a basis for international protection via the Madrid Protocol.
Whether you are selling in the US (USPTO) or EU (EUIPO), the goods categorized under Class 18 remain the same, facilitating a smoother global expansion for Indian leather exporters.
Protecting your brand locally is the first step toward building an international fashion house. Without a home registration, enforcing rights in foreign markets becomes significantly more difficult.
Frequently Asked Questions
What products fall under Trademark Class 18?
Class 18 includes leather, imitations of leather, animal skins, luggage, handbags, wallets, umbrellas, and saddlery.
Are leather jackets included in Class 18?
No, leather clothing, including jackets and belts for wear, belongs in Class 25.
Does Class 18 include vegan leather?
Yes, imitations of leather and goods made from synthetic leather materials are registered in Class 18.
Are backpacks Class 18?
Yes, all types of backpacks, rucksacks, and school bags are included in this class.
What about leather furniture?
Leather furniture and trimmings for furniture fall under Class 20. Class 18 is for portable goods and materials.
Are pet collars and leashes Class 18?
Yes, collars, leashes, and even clothing for pets are specifically categorized under Class 18.
Can I trademark "SOFT LEATHER WALLETS"?
No, this is purely descriptive. You must use a distinctive brand name that does not merely describe the product.
Are umbrellas and parasols Class 18?
Yes, umbrellas, their frames, sticks, and covers are all Class 18 items.
Are laptop bags Class 18?
Generally, yes. However, if the bag is specifically adapted/designed to contain a laptop as its primary function, it may sometimes be categorized in Class 9.
Do walking sticks belong here?
Yes, walking sticks, canes, and alpenstocks are included in Class 18.
What is the government fee for Class 18 registration?
The e-filing fee is ₹9,000 for large companies and ₹4,500 for individuals, startups, or MSMEs.
How long does the registration process take?
It typically takes 18 to 24 months, assuming there are no major objections or third-party oppositions.
Are tool bags Class 18?
Yes, empty tool bags made of leather or imitation leather are included in Class 18.
Can I use the ® symbol immediately?
No, you can only use the ® symbol after receiving the final Registration Certificate. Until then, you may use the ™ symbol.
Are animal hides and skins Class 18?
Yes, raw animal skins, hides, and pelts are listed as items within Class 18.
What happens if my trademark is "Objected"?
You must file a written response within 30 days explaining why your mark is unique and does not conflict with existing brands.
Is registration valid forever?
No, it is valid for 10 years, but it can be renewed indefinitely every 10 years upon payment of a renewal fee.
Are riding saddles and whips Class 18?
Yes, all saddlery, harnesses, whips, and riding crops are Class 18 goods.
Are chamois skins Class 18?
Yes, but only if they are not for cleaning purposes. Cleaning chamois belongs in Class 21.
Why is a search important for leather brands?
The fashion and leather market is highly crowded. A search prevents you from using a name that might already be owned by a competitor.
Official Resources & Authorities
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