Class 16 trademark for paper and printed matter
Short answer
Class 16 covers paper, cardboard and goods made of them, printed matter such as books and magazines, stationery, office requisites, art supplies and packaging materials of paper or plastic. You file in class 16 when you sell these goods under your brand; most offices charge an official fee per class.
Typical goods in class 16
- books
- magazines
- stationery
- notebooks
- packaging
- art supplies
Official class heading, Nice Classification 12th edition
Paper and cardboard; printed matter; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery and office requisites, except furniture; adhesives for stationery or household purposes; drawing materials and materials for artists; paintbrushes; instructional and teaching materials; plastic sheets, films and bags for wrapping and packaging; printers' type, printing blocks.
Often filed in class 16 by mistake
Filing in the wrong class leaves your real products unprotected and still costs the class fee. These belong elsewhere.
Typical conflicts for class 16 marks
Printed matter overlaps with downloadable publications in class 9 and education and publishing in class 41. Book and magazine titles need a distinctive element to register.
An office compares your mark with earlier marks for identical and related goods or services, not only within the same class. Run a trademark availability search to see the closest marks in class 16 and its neighbours, or order a clearance search before a launch.
Classes related to class 16
Frequently asked questions
- What does class 16 cover?
- Class 16 covers paper, cardboard and goods made of them, printed matter such as books and magazines, stationery, office requisites, art supplies and packaging materials of paper or plastic.
- Which classes are related to class 16?
- Offices often treat class 9 (software and electronics), class 35 (advertising, business and retail) and class 41 (education and entertainment) as related. Printed matter overlaps with downloadable publications in class 9 and education and publishing in class 41. Book and magazine titles need a distinctive element to register.
- How much does it cost to add class 16 to an application?
- As of 2026 the USPTO charges 350 USD per class, the EUIPO includes the first class in its 850 EUR basic fee and charges 50 EUR for a second class and 150 EUR for each further class, and the UK IPO charges 50 GBP for each class after the first. Fees are paid to the office.
- What does not belong in class 16?
- For e-books and downloadable publications, use class 9. For publishing services, use class 41. For printing services for others, use class 40.
General information based on the Nice Classification, 12th edition, as of 2026. Offices decide the class of each item; this is not legal advice.