{"id":5886,"date":"2026-03-11T13:31:52","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T13:31:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/?p=5886"},"modified":"2026-03-11T13:31:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T13:31:52","slug":"add-more-classes-or-register-a-new-trademark-which-strategy-is-right-for-your-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/2026\/03\/11\/add-more-classes-or-register-a-new-trademark-which-strategy-is-right-for-your-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Add More Classes or Register a New Trademark? Which Strategy Is Right for Your Business?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In an ever-evolving business environment, companies often expand their product lines or enter new business sectors. At this stage, an important question frequently arises: \u201cIs it sufficient to extend Trademark protection by adding more classes, or is it better to register a new Trademark?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Understanding the difference between these strategies is crucial because the decision will affect the scope of legal protection, branding strategy, and future registration costs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Understanding the Trademark Class System<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In Trademark registration, each application is filed for specific goods or services, which are categorized under the international classification system known as the Nice Classification.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For example:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Class 25: clothing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Class 30: food products such as coffee or biscuits<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Class 35: trading or retail services<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Class 43: restaurant or caf\u00e9 services<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If a business uses the same Trademark name across different types of goods or services, its protection can be extended by registering the Trademark in all relevant classes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, in practice, not every business expansion should rely solely on this strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Related article:<\/i><\/b><b><i><br \/>\n<\/i><\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/2025\/12\/15\/one-product-with-multiple-trademarks-a-smart-protection-strategy-or-simply-overkill\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One Product with Multiple Trademarks: A Smart Protection Strategy or Simply Overkill?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>3 Reasons Why Adding Classes May Be More Appropriate<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Expanding the classes of an existing Trademark is generally more appropriate when the brand identity remains the same and is consistently used across different products or services.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here are several common situations:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Expanding Products Under the Same Trademark<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If a company expands its product line while still using the same Trademark name, adding classes becomes a logical choice.<\/p>\n<p><\/span>Example:<br \/>\nA company owns the Trademark \u201cNUSACOFFEE\u201d, registered for coffee in Class 30. Later, the company begins selling:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">packaged coffee beans<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ready-to-drink coffee beverages<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">coffee capsules\n<p><\/span>In this case, Trademark protection can simply be expanded to the relevant classes without creating a new Trademark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>A Strong and Well-Known Trademark<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If a Trademark is already widely recognized in the market, maintaining one consistent brand identity across related product categories can be an effective branding strategy.<\/p>\n<p><\/span>Example:<br \/>\nAn electronics company using the same Trademark for products such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">headphones<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">speakers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">other audio devices\n<p><\/span>In such situations, adding classes can strengthen the protection of an already reputable Trademark.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Expanding into Related Services<br \/>\n<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many businesses initially sell products and later expand into related services.<\/p>\n<p><\/span>Example:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">a cosmetics manufacturer opening beauty treatment services<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">a coffee producer opening a coffee shop\n<p><\/span>In such cases, registering the Trademark in additional service classes can extend protection without creating a new brand.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>5 Reasons Why Registering a New Trademark May Be the Better Choice<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On the other hand, there are many situations where registering a new Trademark is the more appropriate strategy rather than simply adding more classes.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Different Target Markets<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If a new product targets a different consumer segment, using the same Trademark may not be effective.<\/p>\n<p><\/span>Example:<br \/>\nA company with an energy drink brand targeting young consumers may want to enter the premium health beverage market aimed at adults.<\/p>\n<p>In this situation, a new Trademark may help build a distinct brand identity.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Significant Differences in Product Characteristics<br \/>\n<\/b>Products that are fundamentally different often require different branding strategies.<\/p>\n<p>Example:<br \/>\nA technology company may have a main Trademark for hardware products, but when launching a subscription-based software service, it may choose a new Trademark to create clearer market positioning.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Multi-Brand Strategy<br \/>\n<\/b>Many large companies deliberately adopt a multi-brand strategy to reach different market segments.<\/p>\n<p>Example:<br \/>\nA single company may own several Trademarks within the same product category but with different positioning, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">premium brand<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">mid-range brand<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">budget brand\n<p><\/span>This strategy allows companies to avoid conflicts in brand image across products.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Reducing Risk if One Brand Faces Problems<br \/>\n<\/b>Using one Trademark across too many product categories may increase business risk.<\/p>\n<p>If one day:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">a legal dispute arises<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the brand\u2019s reputation declines<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">a product faces quality issues<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the negative impact could spread to all product lines.\n<p><\/span>Having separate Trademarks allows companies to isolate and manage such risks more effectively.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><b>Collaboration or New Sub-Brands<br \/>\n<\/b>If a new product is developed in collaboration with another party or launched as a special project, using a new Trademark may be more appropriate.<\/p>\n<p>This approach makes it easier to manage:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Trademark ownership<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">licensing agreements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">long-term brand management.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Or Combine Both Strategies<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In modern business practice, many companies do not rely on only one strategy. Instead, they combine both approaches. For example, maintaining a master brand while introducing sub-brands or new Trademarks for specific products.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With this approach, companies can:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">preserve the strength of the main brand<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">while building more specific product identities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ultimately, the decision between adding classes or registering a new Trademark should not be based solely on administrative considerations. It should also take into account the company\u2019s long-term business and branding strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Should you need more information regarding Trademark registration strategies in Indonesia or internationally, feel free to contact us through the following channels and receive a FREE 15-minute consultation.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\ud83d\udce9 E-Mail<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: trademark@staging.affa.co.id<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\ud83d\udcde Book a Call<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: +62 21 83793812<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\ud83d\udcac WhatsApp<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">: +62 812 87000 889<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>About AFFA:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Established in 1999, AFFA Intellectual Property Rights is an Indonesia-based boutique IP law firm serving international brands and innovators, offering full-service support\u2014from prosecution and licensing to enforcement and commercialization\u2014in Indonesia\u2019s dynamic IP landscape. Our firm is widely recognized for its excellence, with accolades including <\/span><b>\u201cBest Boutique Law Firm in Indonesia\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and<\/span><b> \u201cIP Enforcement Firm\u201d <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">at the Indonesia Law Firm Awards 2025 by <\/span><b>Asia Business Law Journal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, as well as being listed as a <\/span><b>\u201cRecommended Firm 2024 \u2014 Indonesia\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> by <\/span><b>WTR 1000: The World\u2019s Leading Trademark Professionals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. For more information, please visit: <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.staging.affa.co.id\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">www.staging.affa.co.id<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In an ever-evolving business environment, companies often expand their product lines or enter new business sectors. At this stage, an important question frequently arises: \u201cIs it sufficient to extend Trademark protection by adding more classes, or is it better to register a new Trademark?\u201d Understanding the difference between these strategies is crucial because the decision&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5888,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,102],"tags":[51,68,75,76,79,87,104,145,353,354,355,356,357,35,365,43,374,48],"class_list":["post-5886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-intellectual-property","category-trademark","tag-kekayaan-intelektual","tag-affa","tag-ip","tag-ki","tag-your-ip-is-our-expertise","tag-affa-ipr","tag-merek-indonesia-bisa","tag-timing-is-everything","tag-indonesia-trademark-registration","tag-overseas-trademark","tag-indonesia-patent-registration","tag-indonesia-industrial-design-registration","tag-indonesia-copyright-registration","tag-trademark","tag-nice","tag-intellectual-property","tag-class","tag-merek","category-81","category-102","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5886"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5886\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5887,"href":"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5886\/revisions\/5887"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5888"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.affa.co.id\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}