Class 9: Electrical, Scientific and Computer Products
Class 9 is the busiest class of all. It’s the first most used of the 45, with 146,986 UK registrations between September 2021 and September 2026, which is nearly five times as many registrations as the average class. Software, apps, electronics, headphones, phone cases, downloadable publications and podcasts all sit here, alongside scientific and safety equipment. If you run any kind of technology or digital business, class 9 is probably on your list. The harder question is what else is.
What class 9 covers
This is the official Nice heading, in full:
Scientific, research, navigation, surveying, photographic, cinematographic, audiovisual, optical, weighing, measuring, signalling, detecting, testing, inspecting, life-saving and teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus and instruments for conducting, switching, transforming, accumulating, regulating or controlling the distribution or use of electricity; apparatus and instruments for recording, transmitting, reproducing or processing sound, images or data; recorded and downloadable multimedia files, computer software, blank digital or analogue recording and storage media; mechanisms for coin-operated apparatus; cash registers, calculating devices; computers and computer peripheral devices; diving suits, divers’ masks, ear plugs for divers, nose clips for divers, gloves for divers, breathing apparatus for underwater swimming; fire-extinguishing apparatus.
It’s a long heading because class 9 is really several classes in one. The part most businesses care about is “computer software” and “downloadable multimedia files”: anything a customer downloads or installs. The rest covers electronic devices and accessories, measuring and scientific equipment, and safety kit such as protective helmets and fire extinguishers.
When you definitely need class 9
- You sell software or an app that customers download or install
- You make or sell electronics, such as headphones, chargers, cameras or computer hardware
- You sell phone cases, screen protectors or other device accessories
- You publish downloadable content, such as e-books, podcasts, music or video
- You make scientific, measuring or safety equipment, including protective helmets
When you might need class 9 without realising
Class 9 turns up in businesses that don’t think of themselves as tech companies at all.
- Coaches, trainers and authors. A downloadable course, workbook or e-book is class 9. Downloadable electronic publications is claimed on 6,966 registrations.
- Podcasters and musicians. Podcasts appear on 5,508 registrations and downloadable music files on 4,005. Producing the podcast is a separate class 41 service.
- Any business with its own app. A restaurant, gym or retailer with a branded app has a class 9 product, even if the app is free.
- Fashion and lifestyle brands. Phone cases and smartwatches are class 9, with smartwatches on 3,634 registrations. An ordinary watch is class 14.
If customers download it, plug it in or charge it, it’s worth checking class 9 before you file.
Not sure whether your product is class 9 or a service in another class? The free class tools below show you where businesses like yours actually file, or you can give us a call.
What businesses actually claim in class 9
These are the terms that turn up most often in recent UK class 9 registrations:
| Term | Marks using it | Share of class 9 | How common |
|---|---|---|---|
| computer software | 19,301 | 13.1% | Most use this |
| software | 11,805 | 8.0% | Recommended |
| application software | 9,711 | 6.6% | Recommended |
| headphones | 9,696 | 6.6% | Recommended |
| downloadable electronic publications | 6,966 | 4.7% | Recommended |
| battery chargers | 6,846 | 4.7% | Recommended |
| computer hardware | 6,485 | 4.4% | Recommended |
| mobile apps | 6,205 | 4.2% | Recommended |
| electronic publications | 5,869 | 4.0% | Some use this |
| computer software applications, downloadable | 5,707 | 3.9% | Some use this |
Software dominates. Computer software leads on 19,301 registrations, followed by software, application software and mobile apps. Consumer electronics sit right alongside: headphones is on 9,696 and battery chargers on 6,846.
Because class 9 is so crowded, a generic software specification puts you alongside a huge number of other marks. It’s worth describing what your software actually does, for example downloadable software for booking appointments. It costs nothing extra within the class and makes clear where your brand actually trades.
One change to know about: sunglasses and spectacles used to be class 9, and sunglasses still shows up on 5,502 recent registrations here. From 1 January 2026 they belong in class 10, so new applications need to put them there.
What class 9 does not cover
Software provided as a service is class 42. Downloadable software is class 9; software customers use online without downloading it is a class 42 service. Software as a service [SaaS] appears on 11,088 class 42 registrations, and design and development of computer software on 3,005.
Transmitting messages, calls and data is class 38. A communications platform needs class 38 for the service of carrying the messages, where telecommunications appears on 3,187 registrations. Streaming audio and video is class 38 too.
Content delivered online, without a download, is class 41. An e-book customers download is class 9. The same content read online is a class 41 service, where providing online electronic publications, not downloadable appears on 2,167 registrations. Training and entertainment delivered through an app are class 41 as well.
Running a marketplace or shop is class 35. A technology marketplace or electronics retailer is providing a service. Provision of an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of goods and services is claimed on 5,025 class 35 registrations.
Where these terms actually live
| Term | Belongs to | Marks using it |
|---|---|---|
| watches | Class 14 | 4,288 |
| video game apparatus | Class 28 | 2,987 |
| provision of an online marketplace for buyers and sellers of goods and services | Class 35 | 5,025 |
| telecommunications | Class 38 | 3,187 |
| providing online electronic publications, not downloadable | Class 41 | 2,167 |
| software as a service [SaaS] | Class 42 | 11,088 |
| design and development of computer software | Class 42 | 3,005 |
Each of these is a separate registration. A mark in class 9 does not cover any of them.
Class 9 or class 42 for software?
For software, the answer usually turns on one question: does the customer download it?
If they download or install it, on a phone, laptop or device, it’s class 9. If they log in and use it through a browser, and it stays on your servers, it’s class 42. Most modern software businesses do both: a web platform and a mobile app. That’s why so many software brands file classes 9 and 42 together.
If you’re not sure, think about how you’d describe it to a customer. “Download our app” points to class 9. “Sign up for our platform” points to class 42. Both sentences on the same website usually mean both classes.
The mistake I see most often
The mistake is assuming every technology business is class 9. The class protects downloadable software and electronic goods. The hosted platform, the transmission of data and the content itself can all sit elsewhere.
A subscription video app is a good example. The app customers download is class 9. Streaming the video to them is class 38. The films and programmes themselves, as entertainment, are class 41. The web platform they log into is class 42. A brand that only files class 9 has protected the download button and not much else.
The practical fix is to list how customers actually use your product: what they download, what they log into, what’s sent to them and what they watch or read. Each of those points to a class. A UK application can’t have classes added later, so it’s worth working through at the start.
Is class 9 the right class for you?
If you sell downloadable software, apps, electronic devices, device accessories or downloadable content under your own brand, class 9 is very likely yours. If you also run a web platform, transmit data, provide content online or run a marketplace, look at classes 42, 38, 41 and 35 as well.
Our free class tools build a specification from wording already accepted on real UK filings, so you can see what businesses like yours claim before you commit.
Common questions about class 9
Is a smartwatch class 9 or class 14?
A smartwatch is class 9, because it’s an electronic device. A traditional watch is class 14, with watches on 4,288 class 14 registrations there. A watch brand selling both needs both classes.
Are games consoles class 9?
No. Video game consoles are class 28, with toys and games, where video game apparatus appears on 2,987 registrations. The game software itself is class 9. A games studio that also makes hardware usually needs both.
Which class are NFTs and digital collectables?
Downloadable digital files authenticated by non-fungible tokens are class 9. The UKIPO list uses wording like downloadable digital image files authenticated by non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and it’s worth using that kind of wording rather than just “NFTs”. Physical goods sold with an NFT stay in their own class.
Is a drone class 9?
No. Drones are class 12, with other vehicles. A camera or control software sold on its own is class 9, but the drone itself sits in class 12. Electric scooters are class 12 as well.
About these figures. Last researched 23 September 2026, from UK trademarks registered between September 2021 and September 2026 whose entry in this class is still active. That is current drafting practice rather than the historical register. Terms shown are those most frequently used in that period.
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