Insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs.
Trademark applications and registrations in Class 36 over the past 15 years.
Class 36 covers insurance, financial affairs, monetary affairs, and real estate affairs. It represents one of the larger service classes, consistent with the outsized economic footprint of the financial services, insurance, and real estate industries. The class is a mandatory filing destination for banks, credit unions, insurance carriers, investment firms, mortgage lenders, payment processors, and property management companies.
Leading filing firms in Class 36 include Greenberg Traurig, LZ Legal Services, and Barnes & Thornburg, reflecting a mix of major financial institution counsel and platform-based filers serving fintech startups. The fintech revolution has significantly expanded filing activity in this class, as digital payment services, cryptocurrency exchanges, peer-to-peer lending platforms, and mobile banking applications all fall squarely within Class 36. NFT-related financial services and blockchain-based transaction processing have further accelerated filings.
The boundaries of Class 36 require careful attention. Financial consulting and advisory services belong here, but general business consulting moves to Class 35. Tax preparation services are in Class 36, but accounting services — despite their close relationship to financial affairs — also reside here rather than in Class 35 as many applicants assume. Insurance underwriting and brokerage are clearly within scope, but actuarial services, being fundamentally mathematical and analytical, can raise classification questions. Real estate brokerage and property management services belong in Class 36, but construction services fall under Class 37, and architectural design services belong in Class 42.
Multi-class filing strategies for financial services brands frequently pair Class 36 with Class 9 for downloadable software applications, Class 42 for SaaS platforms and technology infrastructure, and Class 35 for associated marketing or business administration services. Insurance companies often add Class 44 when health insurance products intersect with healthcare service offerings. Given the heavily regulated nature of financial services, prosecution counsel should ensure that identification of services language tracks both WIPO standards and applicable regulatory definitions to avoid unnecessary office actions.
Class 36 includes mainly services rendered in financial and monetary affairs and services rendered in relation to insurance contracts of all kinds.
| # | Firm | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP | 3,166 |
| 2 | LZ Legal Services, LLC | 2,701 |
| 3 | Greenberg Traurig, LLP | 2,579 |
| 4 | BARNES & THORNBURG LLP | 2,477 |
| 5 | Troutman Pepper Locke LLP | 2,392 |
| 6 | Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP | 2,322 |
| 7 | Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, P.C. | 2,143 |
| 8 | DLA Piper LLP (US) | 2,064 |
| 9 | Fross Zelnick Lehrman & Zissu, P.C. | 1,908 |
| 10 | LegalForce RAPC Worldwide, P.C. | 1,903 |
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Search TrademarksYes. Cryptocurrency exchange services, digital currency trading platforms, and blockchain-based financial services are classified in Class 36 as financial/monetary affairs.
Class 36 covers the actual financial transactions and services (payment processing, lending, insurance). Class 35 covers business management and administrative aspects. A fintech company typically files in both classes.
Tax preparation and filing services are classified in Class 36 (financial affairs). Tax consulting as part of accounting services may also fall under Class 35.
Financial services related to NFTs and digital assets, such as trading platforms, digital wallets, and asset exchanges, belong in Class 36. The technology for creating or minting NFTs belongs in Class 42. The digital artwork or collectible itself may be Class 9.
Yes. Crowdfunding services, peer-to-peer lending platforms, and online fundraising services are classified in Class 36 as financial services. The technology platform itself may also require Class 42, and the marketing aspects may implicate Class 35.
Insurance brokerage and comparison services belong in Class 36, even when provided through a website. The website technology platform may also be filed in Class 42 (SaaS) and Class 9 (downloadable app). The key service, comparing and selling insurance, is a financial service.
Yes. Real estate appraisal, property valuation, and real estate brokerage services all belong in Class 36. Construction of real estate belongs in Class 37, architectural design in Class 42, and property maintenance in Class 37. Real estate developers often file across all four classes.
Yes. Buy-now-pay-later, installment payment plans, and consumer financing services are classified in Class 36 as financial services. The checkout software enabling these payment options may also require Class 42 for the technology platform.
Fintech companies typically need at minimum Class 36 for financial services, Class 42 for the technology platform, and Class 9 for downloadable apps. Many also add Class 35 for business analytics dashboards and Class 38 if the platform includes messaging or notification services.