Trademark Class 15: Musical Instruments | Complete Filing Guide
Everything you need to file a trademark in Class 15. Covers musical instruments, their parts, and accessories.
Class 15 covers musical instruments of all kinds. Instrument manufacturers, music equipment companies, and accessory makers file here.
What Class 15 Covers
Class 15 includes musical instruments and their parts and accessories. This covers all types of instruments used to make music.
The class covers:
- String instruments - Guitars, violins, cellos, basses
- Wind instruments - Flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets
- Percussion - Drums, cymbals, xylophones
- Keyboards - Pianos, organs, synthesizers
- Accessories - Strings, picks, mouthpieces, cases
Included in Class 15
String Instruments:
- Guitars (acoustic and electric)
- Violins
- Cellos
- Basses
- Ukuleles
- Harps
- Banjos
Wind Instruments:
- Flutes
- Clarinets
- Saxophones
- Trumpets
- Trombones
- Oboes
- French horns
Percussion:
- Drums
- Cymbals
- Xylophones
- Timpani
- Tambourines
- Snare drums
- Maracas
Keyboards:
- Pianos
- Organs
- Keyboards
- Accordions
- Synthesizers
- Digital pianos
Accessories:
- Guitar strings
- Drum sticks
- Music stands
- Instrument cases
- Tuning devices
- Picks
- Reeds
NOT Included in Class 15
These similar items belong in other classes:
- Audio recording equipment - Class 9 (Electronics)
- Amplifiers and speakers - Class 9 (Electronics)
- Sheet music - Class 16 (Paper Goods)
- Music education services - Class 41 (Education & Entertainment)
- Headphones - Class 9 (Electronics)
Electronic Instruments
The line between musical instruments and electronics:
Class 15: The instrument itself, including electronic instruments like synthesizers and digital pianos
Class 9: Amplifiers, speakers, recording equipment, and audio processing gear
Common Goods Descriptions
Using pre-approved descriptions from the USPTO Trademark ID Manual avoids the $200 custom description surcharge.
Popular pre-approved descriptions for Class 15:
- Musical instruments
- Guitars
- Pianos
- Drums
- Musical instrument accessories
- Stringed musical instruments
- Wind musical instruments
Well-Known Marks in Class 15
These recognizable brands are registered in Class 15:
- Fender - Guitars and amplifiers
- Yamaha - Pianos and keyboards
- Gibson - Guitars
- Steinway - Pianos
- Pearl - Drums
- Selmer - Saxophones
Filing Tips for Class 15
Instruments vs. Audio Equipment
Be clear about what you are registering:
| Product | Class |
|---|---|
| Electric guitar | Class 15 |
| Guitar amplifier | Class 9 |
| Synthesizer | Class 15 |
| Audio mixer | Class 9 |
Specify Instrument Type
The USPTO accepts specific descriptions:
- Good: "Electric guitars"
- Good: "Drum kits"
- Good: "Digital pianos"
- Bad: "Music equipment"
- Bad: "Sound products"
Specimens for Musical Instruments
For Class 15 trademarks, acceptable specimens include:
- Product labels on instruments
- Headstock decals (guitars)
- Packaging showing the mark
- Website pages where instruments are sold
Related Classes
If you are filing in Class 15, you may also need:
- Class 9: Electronics & Software - Amplifiers, audio equipment
- Class 16: Paper Goods - Sheet music, music books
- Class 41: Education & Entertainment - Music education services
Filing Fees
Current USPTO fees for Class 15 trademark applications (2025):
| Filing Type | Fee per Class |
|---|---|
| Electronic filing (ID Manual description) | $350 |
| Electronic filing (custom description) | $550 |
| Paper filing | $1,000 |
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