Trademark Class 15 in Nepal — Musical Instruments (What It Covers & How to File)

In Nepal, Trademark Class 15 protects musical instruments, their parts, and accessories like stands and batons. You register with the Department of Industry (DoI) under the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965, and protection lasts 7 years, renewable indefinitely. The key rule: instruments that produce music belong here, while those that record or reproduce sound fall under Class 9.

Key Takeaways

• Class 15 covers musical instruments—traditional, acoustic, electric, and electronic—plus their parts and accessories.
• It includes instruments like madals, sarangis, guitars, and components such as strings, reeds, and tuning forks.
• Instruments that produce music are Class 15; equipment that records, amplifies, or reproduces sound is Class 9.
• Printed sheet music belongs in Class 16, while downloadable music files are Class 9.
• Nepal’s traditional-instrument makers and music retailers file in Class 15 to protect their craft names.
• Register with the DoI for a 7-year term, renewable every 7 years.
• One application covers one class—file separately for Class 9 (audio gear) or Class 41 (music lessons).

What does Trademark Class 15 cover in Nepal?

Class 15 protects musical instruments, their parts, and accessories that produce music. This includes traditional Nepali instruments like the madal, sarangi, and bansuri, as well as acoustic, electric, and electronic instruments. It also covers components such as strings, reeds, pedals, tuning forks, and accessories like music stands and conductors’ batons. The defining rule: if it produces music, it belongs in Class 15.

Full list of goods in Class 15 (NICE Classification 13-2026)

Below is the complete alphabetical list of goods in Class 15, as defined by the NICE Classification. Use this to draft your trademark specification when filing with the Department of Industry:

• Accordions
• Bagpipes
• Balalaikas [stringed musical instruments]
• Bamboo flutes
• Bandonions
• Banjos
• Barrel organs
• Basses [musical instruments]
• Bellows for musical instruments
• Bow nuts for musical instruments
• Bows for musical instruments
• Bridges for musical instruments
• Buccins [trumpets]
• Carillons [musical instruments]
• Cases for musical instruments
• Castanets
• Catgut for musical instruments
• Chin rests for violins
• Clarionets
• Clarions
• Colophony for stringed musical instruments / rosin for stringed musical instruments
• Concertinas
• Conductors’ batons
• Cornets [musical instruments]
• Cymbals
• Double basses
• Drum machines
• Drumheads / skins for drums
• Drums [musical instruments]
• Drumsticks
• Electronic musical instruments
• Flutes
• Gongs
• Guitars
• Handbells [musical instruments]
• Harmonicas
• Harmoniums
• Harp strings
• Harps
• Hats with bells [musical instruments]
• Horns [musical instruments]
• Horsehair for bows for musical instruments
• Huqin [Chinese violins]
• Intensity regulators for mechanical pianos
• Jews’ harps [musical instruments]
• Kettledrum frames
• Kettledrums
• Keyboards for musical instruments
• Keys for musical instruments
• Lyres
• Mallets for musical instruments
• Mandolins
• Melodicas
• Mouthpieces for musical instruments
• Music rolls
• Music stands
• Music synthesizers
• Musical boxes
• Musical instruments
• Musical instruments for children
• Mutes for musical instruments / dampers for musical instruments
• Oboes
• Ocarinas
• Organs
• Pedals for musical instruments
• Pegs for musical instruments
• Perforated music rolls
• Piano keyboards
• Piano keys
• Piano strings
• Pianos
• Pipa [Chinese guitars]
• Plectrums / picks for stringed instruments
• Reeds
• Robotic drums
• Saxophones
• Sheng [Chinese musical wind instruments]
• Singing bowls
• Stands for musical instruments
• Sticks for bows for musical instruments
• Straps for musical instruments
• Stringed musical instruments
• Strings for musical instruments
• Suona [Chinese trumpets]
• Tambourines
• Tom-toms
• Triangles [musical instruments]
• Trombones
• Trumpets
• Tuning forks
• Tuning hammers
• Turning apparatus for sheet music
• Valves for musical instruments
• Violas
• Violins
• Wind pipes for organs
• Xylophones
• Zithers

What Class 15 does NOT include

The biggest confusion is between producing music (Class 15) and handling sound electronically (Class 9). Here’s what doesn’t belong in Class 15:

The rule of thumb: if it produces music, it’s Class 15. If it records, amplifies, processes, or reproduces sound, it’s Class 9. Printed music is Class 16, and services like lessons or performances are Class 41.

Who files in Class 15 in Nepal?

Class 15 is vital for Nepal’s traditional-instrument makers, modern manufacturers, and music retailers. If you craft madals, sarangis, or bansuris, or import electric guitars and synthesizers, this is your class. A registered trademark protects your brand name from copycats trading on your reputation. Use our NICE Class Finder to confirm your goods belong here before filing.

How to register a trademark in Class 15 in Nepal

Registering a Class 15 trademark in Nepal follows a clear process with the Department of Industry. Here’s how it works:

1. Search the register — Use our trademark database to check for similar marks in Class 15. This avoids conflicts and refusals.
2. Confirm the class — Ensure your goods are truly Class 15 (instruments, parts, accessories) and not Class 9 (audio gear) or Class 16 (printed music).
3. Prepare your application — Draft a precise goods specification using the NICE list above. Include your mark (word, logo, or both) and the required documents.
4. File with the DoI — Submit your application online or through a local agent. The DoI examines it for distinctiveness and conflicts.
5. Publication and opposition — If approved, your mark is published in the Industrial Property Bulletin for a 90-day opposition window. Anyone can object during this period.
6. Registration — If unopposed, pay the registration fee and receive your certificate. Protection lasts 7 years, renewable indefinitely.

Documents needed to file in Class 15

To register a Class 15 trademark in Nepal, you’ll need:

• Application form — The prescribed form, signed by the applicant or their authorised agent.
• Power of Attorney — If filing through an agent, a notarised Power of Attorney signed by the applicant, sealed, and attested by two witnesses.
• Board resolution — For companies, a resolution authorising the trademark filing.
• Trademark label — Four specimens of the mark (word, logo, or combination).
• Goods specification — A precise list of goods from the NICE Classification (e.g., "traditional drums, stringed instruments").
• Priority documents (if applicable) — A certified copy of the home registration certificate (for foreign applicants claiming priority under the Paris Convention).
• Tax clearance certificate — For Nepali businesses, the latest tax clearance letter.

Foreign applicants must file through a Nepal-based agent and provide additional documents, such as a notarised home registration certificate.

How long does Class 15 registration take?

Registering a Class 15 trademark in Nepal typically takes 12–14 months from filing to certificate. In the smoothest cases—where the application is complete, no objections arise, and no oppositions are filed—the process can finish in 6–8 months. Here’s the timeline breakdown:

• Filing to examination — 2–3 months. The DoI reviews your application for distinctiveness and conflicts.
• Examination to publication — 1–2 months. If approved, your mark is published in the Industrial Property Bulletin.
• Opposition window — 90 days. Anyone can object during this period.
• Registration — 1–2 months. If unopposed, you pay the fee and receive your certificate.

Delays often occur if the DoI raises objections or if third parties oppose the mark. Our team can help you navigate the process and respond to any issues quickly.

How much does it cost to register in Class 15?

The cost of registering a Class 15 trademark in Nepal depends on two factors: government fees and professional fees. Government fees are charged per class, so filing in Class 15 alone is cheaper than filing in multiple classes. Professional fees cover services like searching, drafting the application, and responding to objections.

Key cost drivers:

• Per-class structure — Nepal charges separate fees for each class. If your business spans Class 15 (instruments) and Class 9 (audio gear), you’ll pay for two applications.
• Government vs. professional fees — Government fees are fixed, while professional fees vary based on the complexity of your mark and the services you need.
• Foreign applicants — If you’re filing from abroad, you’ll need a local agent, which adds to the cost.

Use our Trademark Fee Calculator to estimate the cost for your specific case, or contact us for a detailed quote.

Do you need more than one class?

If your business sells more than just instruments, you may need to file in additional classes. For example:

• Class 9 — If you sell amplifiers, effects pedals, or audio interfaces.
• Class 16 — If you print sheet music or sell musical greeting cards.
• Class 41 — If you offer music lessons or live performances.

Nepal’s system requires one application per class, so each additional class incurs separate fees. Map your product range carefully—our guide to choosing the right class can help you decide.

A Nepal example: Protecting a traditional-instrument brand

Imagine "Himalayan Rhythms", a Kathmandu workshop famous for its handcrafted madals and sarangis. The instruments themselves are Class 15, so the brand files here to protect its name. But the workshop also sells:

• Amplifiers and pickups for electric performances — these are Class 9.
• Printed songbooks with traditional tunes — these are Class 16.
• Weekend music classes for children — these are Class 41.

If Himalayan Rhythms files only in Class 15, its name is protected for instruments but not for audio gear, books, or lessons. A competitor could legally use the same name for amplifiers or classes, diluting the brand. By filing in all three classes, the workshop secures full protection for its reputation.

Common mistakes when filing in Class 15

Filing in Class 15 seems straightforward, but small errors can lead to refusals or weak protection. Here are the most common mistakes we see:

• Confusing Class 15 with Class 9 — Electric guitars are Class 15, but the amplifiers and effects pedals that go with them are Class 9. Many applicants file everything in one class, leaving gaps in protection.
• Including printed music in Class 15 — Sheet music belongs in Class 16, not Class 15. Downloadable music files are Class 9.
• Overly broad specifications — Claiming "all musical instruments" is too vague. The DoI prefers precise terms like "traditional drums" or "stringed instruments."
• Missing the opposition window — After publication, third parties have 90 days to oppose your mark. If you’re not monitoring the Industrial Property Bulletin, you might miss a challenge.
• Filing without a search — Skipping the search step risks conflicts with existing marks, leading to refusals and wasted fees.

Our team can help you avoid these pitfalls and file a strong, precise application.

Legal basis for Class 15 in Nepal

Class 15 in Nepal is governed by the Patent, Design and Trademark Act 1965 (PDTA), specifically:

• Sec. 2(c) — Defines a trademark as a word, symbol, or combination used to distinguish goods or services.
• Sec. 18A — Requires goods to be classified by government notice (the NICE Classification).
• Sec. 18 — Sets the grounds for refusal, including conflicts with existing marks and lack of distinctiveness.
• Sec. 21A — Mandates publication in the Industrial Property Bulletin and the 90-day opposition window.
• Sec. 23B — Establishes the 7-year term and renewal process.

Nepal follows the first-to-file principle—rights go to the first valid applicant, not the first user. This makes early filing critical, especially for heritage brands.

Alternatives and edge cases in Class 15

Not every musical product fits neatly into Class 15. Here are some edge cases and alternatives:

• Hybrid instruments — Some modern instruments blend acoustic and electronic elements. If the primary function is producing music (e.g., an electric violin), it’s Class 15. If it’s primarily an electronic device (e.g., a MIDI controller), it’s Class 9.
• Instrument cases — Cases designed specifically for musical instruments (e.g., a guitar case) are Class 15. Generic carrying cases (e.g., backpacks) are Class 18.
• DIY instrument kits — Kits that require assembly to produce music (e.g., a build-your-own-madal kit) are Class 15. Pre-assembled instruments are also Class 15.
• Musical toys — Toys that produce music (e.g., a xylophone for children) are Class 15. Non-musical toys are Class 28.
• Custom instrument parts — Parts made specifically for instruments (e.g., hand-carved sarangi pegs) are Class 15. Generic hardware (e.g., screws or bolts) is Class 6.

If your product doesn’t clearly fit into Class 15, use our AI NICE Classifier to find the best match, or consult our team for guidance.

In short

• Class 15 protects musical instruments, their parts, and accessories—anything that produces music.
• It includes traditional Nepali instruments like the madal, sarangi, and bansuri, as well as modern acoustic, electric, and electronic instruments.
• Instruments that produce music are Class 15; those that record, amplify, or reproduce sound are Class 9.
• Printed sheet music is Class 16, and music services (lessons, performances) are Class 41.
• Register with the Department of Industry for a 7-year term, renewable indefinitely.
• File early—Nepal is first-to-file, so the first valid applicant secures the rights.
• One application covers one class. If your business spans multiple classes, file separately for each.

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Ready to protect your musical-instrument brand? Start with a trademark search to check for conflicts, or contact our team to file your Class 15 application. For a quick estimate, use our Trademark Fee Calculator.