🩺 Nice Class 10: Medical Devices
The EUIPO register holds 147,662 trademarks in Class 10, the class for surgical and medical apparatus and prostheses (as of July 2026). (as of July 2026).
147,662
Marks in the EU register
81,571
Registered with the EUIPO
-21 %
Growth 2020–2024
66 %
Word mark share
Class 10 is the medical technology class: it covers surgical and medical apparatus and prostheses, from operating instruments to hearing aids. The EUIPO register holds 147,662 trademarks in Class 10, of which 81,571 are registered (as of July 2026, EUIPO register data). What stands out is the direction of the curve: new registrations fell from 9,219 in 2020 to 7,237 in 2024, a 21 percent decline, with 7,128 added in 2025. Class 10 is visibly shrinking. The top filers read like a who's who of medtech and pharma: Philips leads with 401 trademarks, ahead of Novartis (337), C. R. Bard (317), DePuy Synthes (302) and Johnson & Johnson (294). The type of mark stands out too: 66 percent of trademarks in Class 10 are word marks. In medical technology the name is the brand, not the logo, because product names have to work in journal articles, tenders and hospital catalogues.
What belongs in Class 10?
Class 10 covers surgical, medical, dental and veterinary instruments and apparatus, plus prostheses. Typical examples: surgical instruments, diagnostic and monitoring devices, hearing aids, prostheses and implants, orthopaedic articles such as supports and insoles, and massage apparatus for medical use. Important distinctions: pharmaceuticals, active ingredients and dietary supplements belong in Class 5, software, apps and wearables in Class 9, and medical services such as treatment and consultation in Class 44. Class 10 protects the physical product, not the therapy and not the companion app.
Typical examples: Medical instruments, orthopedic articles
New EUIPO registrations per year in Class 10
Most active applicants in Class 10
| # | Applicant | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koninklijke Philips Nv | 401 |
| 2 | Novartis Ag | 337 |
| 3 | C R Bard Inc | 317 |
| 4 | Depuy Synthes Inc | 302 |
| 5 | Johnson & Johnson | 294 |
| 6 | Lrc Products Limited | 287 |
| 7 | Olympus Corporation | 275 |
| 8 | Stryker Corporation | 256 |
| 9 | Boston Scientific Scimed Inc | 253 |
| 10 | Karl Storz Se & Co Kg | 239 |
Word mark or figurative mark?
Often combined with
When in doubt, do not file Class 10 in isolation: in practice it is most often combined with Class 5 (pharmaceuticals, active ingredients, supplements), Class 9 (software, apps, sensors) and Class 44 (medical services). Health startups in particular almost always need the combination of 10 and 9, because device and app belong together. If your name is distinctive, go for a word mark: 66 percent of trademarks in Class 10 are word marks, and in the hospital and tender business the name is the brand. And search the register thoroughly first, because despite falling new registrations the class remains densely populated with 147,662 recorded trademarks.
Common mistakes with Class 10
The most common mistake happens in digital health: founders file their health app in Class 10, but software belongs in Class 9 even when it is used medically. Class 10 only applies once a physical device is involved. Second mistake: the border with Class 5. An inhaler is a Class 10 device, the medication inside it is a Class 5 product, and anyone offering both needs both classes. Third, the services side gets forgotten: if you also offer diagnostics, telemedicine or consultation around your devices, you need Class 44 on top. And do not let the 21 percent drop in new registrations fool you: with Philips, Novartis and Johnson & Johnson, some very large filers remain active here.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What belongs in Nice Class 10?
Class 10 covers surgical and medical apparatus and prostheses: surgical instruments, diagnostic devices, hearing aids, implants, orthopaedic articles and medical massage apparatus. Pharmaceuticals belong in Class 5 instead, health apps and wearables in Class 9, and medical services in Class 44.
Why are filings in Class 10 declining?
According to EUIPO register data, new registrations fell from 9,219 in 2020 to 7,237 in 2024, a 21 percent decline, with 7,128 added in 2025. The data itself does not give a reason; within the industry, stricter EU regulation of medical devices is widely seen as one braking factor. That is no all-clear for new filers: the class remains densely populated with 147,662 recorded trademarks.
Does my health app belong in Class 10?
No, software and apps belong in Class 9 even when they serve a medical purpose. Class 10 protects physical devices such as measuring instruments, surgical tools and prostheses. A health startup with a device plus an app therefore typically needs Classes 10 and 9, and Class 44 on top if it offers its own diagnostics or consultation services.
Which classes are typically combined with Class 10?
Most often Class 5 for pharmaceuticals and supplements, Class 9 for software, apps and sensors, and Class 44 for medical services. A company selling a measuring device with an app and offering telemedicine around it covers the typical gaps with 10, 9 and 44.
Sources
EUIPO – European Union Intellectual Property Office: register data on EU trade marks and international registrations with EU protection, as of July 2026.
WIPO – Nice Classification: class definitions and headings (11th edition).
Methodology: own analysis by markencheck.ai; counted per filing entity, name variants merged.
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