💡 Nice Class 11: Lighting, Heating & Cooling Appliances
The EUIPO register holds 185,299 trademarks in Class 11, the class for lighting, heating, cooking and refrigeration apparatus (as of July 2026). (as of July 2026).
185,299
Marks in the EU register
115,611
Registered with the EUIPO
+7 %
Growth 2020–2024
56 %
Word mark share
Class 11 often gets shortened to "the lighting class", but it covers far more: apparatus for lighting, heating, cooking, cooling, drying and ventilating, from LED panels and ovens to heat pumps and shower fittings. The EUIPO register holds 185,299 trademarks in Class 11, of which 115,611 are registered (as of July 2026, EUIPO register data). Growth is quiet but steady: new registrations rose from 9,766 in 2020 to 10,481 in 2024, a 7 percent increase, with another 10,239 added in 2025. The list of top filers reads like a who's who of the home appliance world: LG Electronics leads with 1,337 trademarks, followed by BSH Hausgeräte with 1,100, then lighting specialist Signify (429), kitchen and bathroom manufacturer Kohler (405) and Turkish appliance group Arçelik (354). Word marks make up 56 percent of the class. Anyone launching a smart lamp, a connected oven or a heating system today is operating right in the middle of these corporate portfolios, and that is exactly where the typical conflicts happen.
What belongs in Class 11?
Class 11 covers apparatus and installations for lighting, heating, cooking, refrigerating, steam generating, drying, ventilating, water supply and sanitary purposes. Typical examples: lamps and light fixtures, stoves, ovens and grills, refrigerators and air conditioners, radiators and heat pumps, air purifiers, plus taps, showers and toilets. One important distinction: the electronics usually do not belong in Class 11. Apps, sensors, thermostats with measuring and control functions and similar devices fall under Class 9, motors and machine parts under Class 7, and non-electric kitchenware such as pots and pans under Class 21.
Typical examples: Lighting, heating, cooking, refrigeration, sanitary
New EUIPO registrations per year in Class 11
Most active applicants in Class 11
| # | Applicant | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lg Electronics Inc | 1,337 |
| 2 | Bsh Hausgeräte Gmbh | 1,100 |
| 3 | Signify Holding Bv | 429 |
| 4 | Kohler Co | 405 |
| 5 | Arçelik Anonim Sirketi | 354 |
| 6 | Osram Gmbh | 291 |
| 7 | Grohe Ag | 268 |
| 8 | Aktiebolaget Electrolux | 228 |
| 9 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 226 |
| 10 | Hansgrohe Se | 223 |
Word mark or figurative mark?
Often combined with
Rarely file Class 11 on its own: in practice it is most often combined with Class 9 (controls, sensors, apps), Class 7 (motors and machines) and Class 21 (household and kitchen utensils). Before filing, write down your full planned product range, including the next two to three years, and assign each product to a class. Also check whether your name works as a word mark, since at 56 percent it is the dominant type in this class. And search the EUIPO register thoroughly: with LG Electronics and BSH Hausgeräte, two of the most active filers anywhere sit right here.
Common mistakes with Class 11
The most common mistake is the smart home trap: a connected product consists of hardware and software, yet many founders file for only one side. If you secure only Class 9 for the app, the lamp or heater itself stays unprotected, and vice versa. Second mistake: taking the class too literally. If you file for "lamps only" and later expand into fans, heaters or air purifiers, you have no protection there, because the list of goods cannot be extended after filing. Third, accessories often end up in the wrong class: cookware belongs in Class 21, motors and pump parts in Class 7. Guessing instead of checking means protecting the wrong things.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What belongs in Nice Class 11?
Class 11 covers apparatus for lighting, heating, cooking, cooling, drying, ventilating, water supply and sanitary purposes: lamps, ovens, refrigerators, air conditioners, heat pumps and bathroom fittings. The related electronics usually belong in Class 9 instead, motors in Class 7 and non-electric kitchenware in Class 21.
Who files the most trademarks in Class 11?
According to EUIPO register data (as of July 2026), LG Electronics leads with 1,337 trademarks, followed by BSH Hausgeräte (1,100), Signify (429), Kohler (405) and Arçelik (354). The class is shaped by large appliance, lighting and sanitary groups, so check their portfolios in the register before you file.
My lamp comes with an app. Is Class 11 enough?
Usually not. Class 11 protects the physical device, meaning the lamp, oven or heater. The app, connected sensors and control electronics fall under Class 9. Smart products therefore typically need both classes, otherwise either the hardware or the software stays unprotected.
Which classes are typically combined with Class 11?
Most often Class 9 for controls, sensors and software, Class 7 for motors and machines, and Class 21 for household and kitchen utensils. A kitchen appliance startup with a connected oven and matching accessories covers the typical gaps with 11, 9 and 21.
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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