When someone applies for a trademark in India, they have to choose the correct class for their goods or services. All goods and services in the Trademark are divided into 45 classes under the Nice Classification system, which is followed in India and many other countries. Each class covers a different type of product. Trademark Class 27 covers all kinds of floor coverings, carpets, mats, and non-textile wall hangings. If your business deals with products such as rugs, carpets, vinyl flooring, or mats for homes, offices, or gyms, registering your trademark under Class 27 is crucial.
Registering your brand under Class 27 ensures that your brand is protected, helps customers identify your products, and prevents others from using a similar mark.
What is Trademark Class 27?
Trademark Class 27 covers carpets, rugs, mats and matting, linoleum and other materials for covering existing floors; wall hangings, non-textile.
Goods Covered in Class 27:
- Automobile carpets
- Bath mats, door mats, gymnastic mats, yoga mats
- Artificial turf
- Wallpaper, including textile wallpaper
Examples of Trademarks in Class 27
- Duroflex for mats and floor coverings
- Welspun for carpets and rugs
- Sleepwell for rubber mats and floor coverings
- Featherlite for gym flooring and exercise mats
Businesses that Should Register under Trademark Class 27
1. Carpets and Rugs
- Manufacturers and sellers of carpets, rugs, and mats
- Producers of decorative or handmade carpets
- Carpet underlay producers
- Manufacturers of automobile carpets
2. Floor Coverings
- Vinyl, linoleum, or PVC flooring manufacturers
- Foam, rubber, or gym flooring suppliers
- Manufacturers of artificial turf
- Producers of non-slip mats, floor mats, and fire-resistant mats for fireplaces/barbecues
- Mats of woven rope for ski slopes
3. Wall Hangings (Non-Textile)
- Decorative wall coverings (non-textile)
- Panels or mats used for interior decoration
- Wallpaper and non-textile wall hangings
Examples
- Bath mats
- Artificial turf
- Carpet underlay
- Carpets/rugs
- Carpets for automobiles
- Door mats
- Floor coverings
- Gymnastic mats/gymnasium mats
- Linoleum
- Mats
- Non-slip mats
- Reed mats
- Tatami mats
- Textile wallcoverings
- Textile wallpaper
- Vinyl floor coverings
- Wall hangings, not of textile
- Wallpaper
- Yoga mats
- Floor mats, fire-resistant, for fireplaces and barbecues
Benefits of Registering a Trademark under Class 27
- You get exclusive rights to use your trademark for all goods covered under Class 27, including carpets, mats, floor coverings, and non-textile wall hangings. Others cannot use a similar mark for the same types of products.
- Trademark registration under Class 27 gives you legal standing to take action against infringement or unauthorised use of your brand.
- Trademark registration distinguishes your products from competitors and others in the market.
- A registered trademark helps customers identify and trust your products.
- A trademark allows you to expand into new markets.
- A registered trademark under Class 27 becomes an intellectual property asset. It can be sold, transferred, or used to obtain loans.
What is Not Covered in Trademark Class 27
| S. No. | Excluded Goods | Correct Class |
| 1 | Textile wall hangings | Class 24 |
| 2 | Clothing or wearable mats | Class 25 |
| 3 | Electrical floor heating devices | Class 11 |
| 4 | Carpets with integrated lighting or electronics | Class 11 |
How to Register a Trademark Under Class 27 in India?
The process for registering your trademark under Class 27 is as follows:
Step 1: Do the Trademark Search
Use the IP India Public Search online portal to check whether your proposed brand name, logo, or tagline is not already registered with the trademark registry.
Step 2: File Application (Form TM-A)
Submit the Form TM-A with details of your mark, class 27, and description of services. You can file the application online at the IP India portal.
Step 3: Examination
Once you file a trademark application, the Registrar of Trademarks will examine it to check whether it complies with the requirements of Sections 9 and 11 of the Trademarks Act, 1999.
If the Registrar raises any objections, an Examination Report will be issued, and then:
- You need to file a reply to the objections within 30 days from the date of receipt of the report.
- If the Registrar finds the reply satisfactory, the application will proceed to publication.
- If not, the Registrar may issue a show-cause notice calling for a hearing to ask for clarification.
Step 4: Application published in the Trademark Journal
Once your trademark application is accepted by the Registrar, the mark is advertised in the Trademark Journal. The trademark remains published for 4 months, so that third parties can file an opposition, if they want to.
Step 5: Opposition and issuance of registration certificate
If someone opposes the registration, the case may go to a trademark hearing. If it is resolved in your favour or if unopposed, the registrar will issue a Trademark Registration Certificate.
FAQs
1. What does Trademark Class 27 include?
Trademark Class 27 covers carpets, rugs, mats, artificial turf, vinyl and linoleum flooring, and non-textile wall hangings. It includes all kinds of materials used for covering floors or decorating walls that are not made of textile fabric.
2. Who should apply for registration under Class 27?
Manufacturers, traders, or exporters dealing in carpets, rugs, gym mats, yoga mats, artificial turf, or non-textile wall coverings should register under Class 27.
3. What products are not covered in Class 27?
Products like textile wall hangings covered in Class 24, wearable mats or clothing (Class 25), and electrical floor heating devices or carpets with lights covered in Class 11 are excluded from Class 27.
4. What are the benefits of registering a trademark under Class 27?
Registration grants exclusive rights over your brand name or logo for floor and wall coverings. It legally protects your mark against misuse, builds customer trust, strengthens your brand identity, and enhances your business’s market value as an intellectual property asset.
5. How can you register a trademark under Class 27 in India?
You must conduct a trademark search on the IP India portal, file Form TM-A with your details, respond to examination objections (if any), and wait for your mark’s publication in the Trademark Journal. Once the opposition period ends, you’ll receive a registration certificate.
6. How long is a trademark under Class 27 valid?
A trademark registered under Class 27 is valid for 10 years from the registration date and can be renewed every 10 years by paying the prescribed renewal fee to maintain protection indefinitely.
