AttorneySteve® Trademark College® - Popular classifications for YouTubers!

Introduction

If you are starting a YouTube channel, you may want to discuss obtaining a federally registered trademark.  This will allow you to stop any "confusingly similar" channel that arises in you business "space."  You may want to register just your name, or, a name and a logo.  You may also want to copyright a logo.  We can help with these legal services and we represent several very large YouTube creators.

But one question that often pops up is WHICH CLASSIFICATION DO I PUT MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL IN?  This will depend on what your PRODUCT or SERVICE is.  A trademark can be sought in relation to goods and services provided in the stream of interstate commerce.  

Here five very popular channels according to SocialBlade.com and this may give you and idea on some ways to position your channel and merchandise you may wish to sell.  Some broadcasters seek several trademarks in different classes.

PewdiePie - Link to channel

IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Movies, namely, audio and video recordings featuring video game playing with player commentary and narration, computer game programs, computer game software, downloadable computer game programs, software in the form of applications (apps) for games, computer software for transmission of photographs to mobile telephones, computer mice, computer mouse pads, headsets for telephone and computer, headphone consoles, keyboards

IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S: Posters, printed items, namely, business cards, picture postcards

IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: Clothing, namely, t-shirts and sweatshirts, footwear, headgear, namely, caps, clothing accessories, namely, scarves

IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment, namely, live performances featuring video game playing with player commentary and narration; arranging, organizing and performing online shows featuring video game playing with player commentary and narration

MrBeast - Link to channel

IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: clothing, namely, sweatshirts, shirts and hats. FIRST USE: 20190605. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20190605

IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: entertainment services, namely, providing online non-downloadable videos featuring stunts, pranks, challenges and monetary giveaways. FIRST USE: 20150803. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20150803

Cocomelon - Link to channel

IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: Clothing, namely, shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, underwear, sleepwear. FIRST USE: 20201000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20201000

IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: Clothing, namely, shirts, sweatshirts, underwear, sleepwear. FIRST USE: 20201000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20201000

IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: Clothing, namely, pants, sweaters, jackets, snowsuits, rainwear, coats, shorts, sweatpants, dresses, skirts, undershirts, socks, swimwear; hats; scarves; gloves; footwear, namely, shoes, sandals, slippers, and athletic shoes; baby bibs not of paper; Halloween and masquerade costumes

IC 028. US 022 023 038 050. G & S: Toys, games and playthings, namely, plush toys, dolls, doll clothing and costumes, doll accessories, board games, card games, manipulative puzzles, electronic learning toys, squeeze toys, bath toys, beach water toys, beach sand toys, multiple activity baby toys, infant toys, baby rattles, puppets, bean bags, pull toys, ride-on toys, toy vehicles, toy scooters, sports balls, beach balls, playground balls, toy foam balls, wind up toys, balloons, toy building blocks, construction toys, toy shovels, toy pails, toy musical instruments, toy action figures and accessories therefor; party favors in the nature of small toys; Christmas tree ornaments; puzzles; card games; yo-yos; costumes for toys; toy masks

IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Downloadable mobile application for children's education and entertainment featuring, games, music, images, and animated cartoons; DVDs featuring children's educational and entertainment matter, games, music, images, and animated cartoons; sunglasses; microphones, headphones; bicycle helmets

IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Audio recordings featuring children's nursery rhymes and songs; Audio and video recordings featuring children's nursery rhymes and songs. FIRST USE: 20190109. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20190109

IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Educational and entertainment services, namely, providing on-line interactive children's stories; Providing on-line videos featuring 3D-animation, educational stories for children, children's nursery rhymes and sing-along songs, not downloadable; Providing a website featuring non-downloadable audio recordings in the field of educational stories for children, children's nursery rhymes and sing-along songs. FIRST USE: 20180817. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20180817

IC 016. US 002 005 022 023 029 037 038 050. G & S: Paper and cardboard; printed matter, namely, paper signs, books, newsletters, brochures, magazines and comics in the field of children's entertainment and education; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery and office requisites in the nature of staplers, adhesive tape dispensers and rubber bands, except furniture; adhesives for stationery or household purposes; drawing materials and materials for artists, namely, paintbrushes, crayons and drawing pens; paintbrushes; printed instructional and teaching materials in the field of children's education and entertainment; plastic sheets, films and bags for wrapping and packaging; printers' type, printing blocks; cartoon prints; printed cartoon strips; story books; printed colouring books; printed children's comics; children's storybooks; painting books; printed books in the field of children's entertainment and education; poster books; novels; educational books featuring pre-school and elementary level English and mathematics and general knowledge; picture books; drawing books; printed books for children; sticker activity books; printed pop-up books in the field of children's' educational books featuring pre-school and elementary level English and mathematics; children's activity books; series of fiction books; printed children's books incorporating an audio component; stationery; printed stationery; paper stationery; stationery and educational supplies, namely, writing paper, pens and pencils; greeting cards; birthday cards; blank cards; postcards; diaries; stickers being stationery; pencils; pen and pencil cases; pens; colouring pens; colouring crayons; colouring pencils; chalk; rulers, namely, drawing rulers, drafting rulers, ungraduated rulers; erasers; printed wall charts, namely, blank charts and charts for displaying data about human height; gift bags; paper bags; paper wall decals ; tissues, namely, tissue paper; paper party decorations; printed party invitations; paper party bags; modelling clay for children; drawing pads; printed note pads; writing pads; stencils; paper gift cards being stationery; printed magazines featuring children's entertainment and education; printed teaching activity guides in the field of math, English, science and pre-school and elementary level general learning; plastic gift wrap; advertising posters; printed advertising publications, namely, brochures and magazines in the field of children's entertainment and education; printed invitations; arts and crafts paint kits; replacement parts therefor included in this class

JennaMarbles - Link to channel

IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment services, namely, an on-going series featuring comedy provided through the Internet; Entertainment services, namely, live, televised and movie appearances by a professional entertainer; Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a celebrity; Entertainment services, namely, providing a website featuring advice concerning personal relationships, such advice being for entertainment purposes only; Entertainment services, namely, providing podcasts in the field of comedy; Entertainment services, namely, providing video podcasts in the field of social commentary; Entertainment services, namely, the provision of continuing segments featuring comedy delivered by the Internet; Film and video production; Production of humorous videos for the Internet; Production of sound and music video recordings; Entertainment services, namely, acting services in the nature of visual and audio performances by an actor; Spokesperson services, namely, acting as a spokesperson for entertainment purposes. FIRST USE: 20100216. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20100216

Markiplier - Link to channel 

IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Downloadable videos featuring gaming content and commentary, comedy sketches, animated parodies and content, entertainment, lifestyle, news, and technology. FIRST USE: 20120526. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20120526

IC 025. US 022 039. G & S: Clothing, namely, tops, bottoms, shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, socks, belts; headwear. FIRST USE: 20161130. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20161130

IC 041. US 100 101 107. G & S: Entertainment services in the nature of online, non-downloadable videos, audio content, podcasts, webcasts, blogs and images transmitted via the Internet and mobile platforms in the field of gaming, gaming content and commentary, comedy, and animation; distribution of live visual and audio performances via the Internet and mobile platforms; providing online videos featuring gaming content and commentary, comedy sketches, animated parodies and content, entertainment, lifestyle, news, and technology, not downloadable; providing online information in the field of entertainment, gaming, comedy, animation and charitable programs and activities. FIRST USE: 20120526. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20120526

More category ideas for online musicians

From the USPTO website:

Here are examples of goods and services often identified by musical performers:

• Goods featuring musical recordings
  • Musical sound recordings, in International Class 009
  • Compact discs and DVDs featuring music, in International Class 009
  • Digital media, namely, downloadable audio files featuring music, in International Class 009
  • Digital media, namely, and downloadable audio and video recordings featuring music, in International Class 009
  • Downloadable musical sound recordings, in International Class 009
  • Musical video recordings, in International Class 009
  • Video recordings featuring music, in International Class 009
  • Downloadable video recordings featuring music, in International Class 009
• Common ancillary products for musical bands
  • Posters, in International Class 016
  • Stickers, in International Class 016
  • T-shirts, in International Class 025
  • Hats, in International Class 025
• Entertainment services for musical bands
  • Entertainment services, in the nature of live musical performances, in International Class 041
  • Entertainment, namely, live music concerts, in International Class 041
  • Entertainment services, namely, personal appearances by a musical group, in International Class 041
  • Entertainment services, namely, providing non-downloadable prerecorded music, information in the field of music, and commentary and articles about music, all on-line via a global computer network, in International Class 041
  • Entertainment services, namely, providing a website featuring non-downloadable videos of musical performances by a musical group, in International Class 041

Even More ideas 

To get even more ideas, click on the USPTO ID manual

List of Goods and Services Classifications

Goods

Services

Contact a YouTube Trademark and Social Media Law Firm

Since 2004, we have helped many creative artists, musicians, filmmakers, actors, models and others in entertainment & IP law issues including celebrity endorsement agreements, right of publicity, contract review, trademark and copyright registration and arbitration, mediation and litigation (over 300 cases).

Call us at (877) 276-5084 for a free initial consultation, or email us through our contact form and we will contact you.