BAT trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2025
Video: how BAT extended its South African trademarks into new classes from 1970 to 2025 – from tobacco, electronics & software, advertising & retail into new fields. 43 of 45 classes, 1,150 trademarks. South African trademark statistics by Sibanda & Zantwijk.
Transcript
- Before 1970, BAT already used 34 classes, including class 34 tobacco, class 32 beer & soft drinks, class 33 wines & spirits, class 16 paper & print, class 21 kitchenware.
- 1972: BAT moves into class 42 tech & IT services.
- 1989: BAT moves into class 37 construction & repair.
- 1995: BAT moves into class 35 advertising & retail; class 36 finance & insurance.
- 1997: BAT moves into class 39 transport & travel; class 41 education & entertainment.
- 2010: BAT moves into class 43 restaurants & hotels.
- 2019: BAT moves into class 38 telecoms.
- 2021: BAT moves into class 40 processing materials.
- By 2025, BAT had trademarks in 43 of the 45 classes.