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What is the Vienna Classification?

The Vienna Classification is an international system for categorizing the figurative elements of trademarks. The purpose of the Vienna Classification is to facilitate the search for figurative elements of trademarks.

The “Vienna Classification – International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks” was concluded on June 12, 1973, at the “Vienna Diplomatic Conference” and entered into force on August 9, 1985.

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Objectives of the Vienna Classification

Harmonization

One objective of the Vienna Classification was the harmonization of image descriptions from various trademark offices. This was intended to avoid reclassifications in the event of international document exchange.

Classification of Figurative Elements

However, the main purpose was to improve the search capabilities for figurative elements of existing trademarks. Until the introduction of the Vienna Classification, figurative elements of trademarks were described textually, without structured, internationally valid guidelines for drafting these descriptions.

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Content of the Classification

The Vienna Classification is a hierarchically structured system that divides all figurative elements into categories, sections, and subsections. Explanatory notes are also occasionally provided.

In total, the Vienna Classification comprises 29 categories, 145 sections, and 1709 subsections. Code numbers are assigned to these.

Structure of the Classification

The classification is based on category (1–29), section (1–19), and subsection (1–25). For finer subdivision, there are auxiliary sections, which are coded within the subsections. A figurative mark will usually receive several classifications to describe its individual components.

For example, the representation of a “girl eating” belongs to

• Category 2 (Humans),
• Section 5 (Children),
• Main Subsection 3 (Girls) and
• Auxiliary Subsection 18 (Children drinking or eating).

Coding

In the trademark, the classification is indicated by means of a short code, the so-called “notation”. The example “girl eating” would be coded with notations as CFE 2.5.3 and CFE 2.5.18. The abbreviation CFE for “Classification of Figurative Elements” stands for the Vienna Classification.

If a mark belongs to several subsections, these can be indicated separated by a comma (CFE 2.5.3,18). If a mark belongs to several categories, these can be indicated separated by a semicolon (e.g., CFE 1.1.2,10,25; 1.15.17; 2.9.1). Additionally, it is recommended to specify the edition of the Vienna Classification used for coding in parentheses (CFE (8) 2.5.3,18).

Search

For the search of marks with figurative elements, this means that a labor-intensive coding of the figurative elements must be carried out before the search.

If the search also needs to be conducted for national marks in countries that have not signed the Vienna Classification, a word-based description (in the respective language) must also be created.

Additionally, it is now sometimes possible to conduct a similarity search by uploading an image.

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