'Shohyo Navi' Adds Trademark Class Selection Guide Feature - AI Recommends Optimal Application Classes from 45 Categories

Mycat Inc. (Headquarters: Meguro-ku, Tokyo) is pleased to announce the addition of a Trademark Class Selection Guide feature to its AI trademark search and application support service, 'Shohyo Navi' (https://shohyo.xyz).

The Importance of "Class Selection" in Trademark Applications

When applying for a trademark, it is necessary to specify a "class" corresponding to the type of goods or services. There are 45 classes in total, from Class 1 to Class 45, comprising classes for goods (Classes 1-34) and classes for services (Classes 35-45).

According to statistics from the Japan Patent Office, there are 158,000 trademark applications filed annually (Source: Japan Patent Office Annual Report). Among these, cases arise where the scope of rights becomes insufficient due to improper class selection, or application costs inflate due to the inclusion of unnecessary classes.

Why Class Selection is Difficult

The difficulty in class selection is mainly due to the following three points:

1. The correspondence between business content and classes is not intuitive. For example, when running a restaurant, providing food and drinks falls under Class 43 (services for providing food and drink), but selling takeout products may fall under Class 30 (staple foods) or Class 29 (processed foods). It is not uncommon for a single business to span multiple classes.

2. Selection must consider future business development. It is necessary to select classes not only for the current business but also considering future planned ventures. Adding classes later requires a new application and incurs additional costs.

3. Understanding of Similar Group Codes is required. "Similar group codes" are assigned to goods and services within each class. If another party's trademark with the same similar group code has already been registered, the application may be rejected.

Overview of the New Feature

The Trademark Class Selection Guide feature recommends appropriate application classes by simply having the AI analyze a description of the business content in natural language.

Input: "I run a cafe. I also sell our original blend of coffee beans online. In the future, I want to hold coffee classes."

Output:

• Class 43 (Services for providing food and drink): Cafe operation

• Class 30 (Coffee): Sales of coffee beans

• Class 41 (Education and training): Hosting coffee classes

• Estimated application cost for each class

• Priority judgment (Essential, Recommended, Optional)

By extracting all necessary classes based on the business content and presenting them with their priority, the feature supports appropriate class selection.

If you are considering a trademark application, please try the class selection guide feature of Shohyo Navi.

* This service does not constitute a proxy application under the Patent Attorney Act. Please consult a specialist, such as a patent attorney, for specific application procedures.

■ Company Profile
Company Name: Mycat Inc.
Established: February 5, 2025
Location: 2-7-22 Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo
Business: Planning, development, and operation of AI-based services for SMEs and individuals
Corporate Site: https://mycat.business
Contact: info@mycat.love