Kuwait: Adopting the tenth edition of the nice classification

The tenth edition of the Nice Classification is expected to enter into force on January 1, 2017 in Kuwait, thus replacing the outgoing eighth edition. The adoption of the 10th edition will not affect trademarks already filed and registered in Kuwait. Upon next renewal, goods and classes affected by this change in formalities should be reclassified accordingly by the Trademark Office.

It is important to note that regardless of which edition of the Nice Classification is being used, the trademark offices across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which Kuwait is a member of, will depart from the Nice Classification when dealing with items that contradict Sharia law. For example, trademarks covering alcoholic goods and related retail or wholesale services are prohibited. By way of background, the GCC member states are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The table below offers a general overview on the Nice Classification in the Middle East and North Africa.

Country	Nice Edition Adopted	Member of the Nice Agreement?	Is it possible to claim class headings?
Afghanistan	8th	No	Yes
Algeria	10th	Yes (entry into force: July 5, 1972)	Yes, provided that the headings are specified. Using the phrase “all goods/services in the class” is not acceptable.
Bahrain	10th	Yes (entry into force: December 15, 2005)	Yes, provided that the headings are specified. Using the phrase “all goods/services in the class” is not acceptable.
Cyprus	10th	No	No
Djibouti	8th	No	Yes
Egypt	10th	Yes (entry into force: June 18, 2005)	Yes
Ethiopia	8th	No	Yes
Gaza	8th; Class 33 & alcoholic goods in class 32 cannot be registered	No	Yes, provided that the headings are specified. Using the phrase “all goods/services in the class” is not acceptable.
India	9th	No	Yes
Iran	8th; Class 33 & alcoholic goods in class 32 cannot be registered	No	Yes
Iraq	7th with local sub-classification	No	Yes (an applicant can only claim class headings)
Jordan	10th	Yes (entry into force: November 14, 2008)	No
Kuwait	8th; Class 33, alcoholic goods in class 32, & pork meat in class 29 cannot be registered	No	Yes
Lebanon	10th	Yes (entry into force: April 18, 1961)	Yes
Libya	8th; Class 33, alcoholic goods in class 32, as well as Christmas trees and related products in class 28 cannot be registered	No	Yes, provided that the headings are specified. Using the phrase “all goods/services in the class” is not acceptable.
Morocco	10th	Yes (entry into force: October 1, 1966)	Yes
Oman	10th	No	No
Pakistan	8th	No	Yes
Qatar	7th; Class 33 & alcoholic goods in class 32 cannot be registered	No	Yes for all classes except for classes 1, 4 to 7, 10 to 14, 16 to 22, 29, and 31
Saudi Arabia	10th; Class 33, alcoholic goods in class 32, pork meat in class 29, & Christmas trees and related products in class 28 cannot be registered	No	Yes, provided that the headings are specified. Using the phrase “all goods/services in the class” is not acceptable.
Sudan	9th; Class 33 & alcoholic goods in class 32 cannot be registered	No	No
Syria	10th	Yes (entry into force: March 28, 2005)	Yes
Tunisia	10th	Yes (entry into force: May 29, 1967)	Yes, provided that the headings are specified. Using the phrase “all goods/services in the class” is not acceptable.
Turkey	10th	Yes (entry into force: January 1, 1996)	Yes
United Arab Emirates	10th; Class 33 & alcoholic goods in class 32 cannot be registered	No	Yes
West Bank	8th	No	Yes, provided that the headings are specified. Using the phrase “all goods/services in the class” is not acceptable.
Yemen	8th; Class 33 & alcoholic goods in class 32 cannot be registered	No	Yes