Trademarks play the most important role in the difference between a business's products from its competitors. The 45 classes in the Nice Classification System, under which goods or services are categorized, incorporate Class 16, involving paper goods, office supplies, and printed materials. If you're trading paper products, stationery, or printed publications, learn about Trademark Class 16 to protect your mark and have legal rights towards your intellectual property.
This article dives into the details of Trademark Class 16, what goods are included, what is excluded, and why businesses in this class should register their trademarks under this class.
What is Trademark Class 16?
Trademark Class 16 pertains to goods which mainly include paper products, printed products, and office supplies. Such goods usually form a crucial part of any business operations whether educational, publishing, or in the management of offices. This class ranges from books, magazines, paper, packaging, and stationery products. Basically, it covers all the products for writing, printing, or office-related tasks.
Registering a trademark under Class 16 provides a company with an exclusive right to branded paper products and printed matters. This protects the intellectual property of the firm and enhances brand recognition by ensuring no unauthorized use of trademarks by other companies.
Step into the future of legal expertise! Join our Advanced Certification Program in Intellectual Property Law, created by The Legal School in collaboration with Khaitan & Co. Designed for fresh law graduates and professionals, this unique course boosts your legal career. Don’t miss this opportunity—enquire today to secure your spot!
Products Included in Trademark Class 16
Trademark Class 16 is diversified as it includes various kinds of paper products, office stationery, and printed materials. The important goods falling within this class include:
1. Paper Goods
Stationery, including writing paper, envelopes, and notepads.
Paper bags, cardboard, and wrapping paper.
Paperboard and other types of paper-based packaging materials.
2. Printing Materials
Books,
Leaflets,
Magazines, newsletters, brochures.
Newspaper,
Ads and posters, diaries calendars, and many printed organizer products.
3. Office Supplies
Office stationery goods for example pens pencils markers among others
Folders file document holders
Desks' accessories, clips paper tape stapler.
4. Printing and Writing Products
Arts and crafts
Dollies, crafts, school supplies, exercise books.
Sticker sheets, tags, and ticket materials
Birthday cards, greeting cards and greeting cards
5. Educational Materials
Books, pamphlets, and workbooks for education
Teaching manuals and instructional materials
6. Packaging Materials
Cardboard boxes, paper wrappers and packaging tape
Labels, and tags, for packaging goods
7. Advertising Content
Printing Business cards and letterheads.
Promotional products such as brochures or flyers, printed
Know the Key Differences between a Patent & Trademark
Products Not Included in Trademark Class 16
Although Trademark Class 16 covers a wide range of paper products, several other types of products are not covered under this class. These products are categorized under other classes depending on their use, function, or material. Some of the products that are excluded from Class 16 are:
1. Books and Publications in Digital Formats:
E-books and downloadable publications are not included and are usually classified in Class 9.
2. Furniture and Office Equipment:
Office chairs, desks, and file cabinets are Class 20 products.
3. Advertising and Marketing Services:
Services involving advertising or marketing are not Class 16. They are classified as Class 35.
4. Printed Clothing and Textiles:
T-shirts, tote bags, and other clothing items that have printed designs or logos are Class 25 (Clothing) or Class 24 (Textiles).
5. Books with Specific Content in Other Areas:
Books are mostly categorized in Class 5 or Class 42 according to the context.
6. Office Machines and Equipment
Printers, fax machines, and other electronic office machines fall in Class 9.
Also, Get to Know Legal Framework & Trademark Law in India
List of Goods in Class 16 of Trademark
Here is the comprehensive list of goods that must be classified under Trademark Class 16:
absorbent sheets of paper or plastic for foodstuff packaging
address stamps
address plates for addressing machines
addressing machines
adhesive tape dispensers [office requisites]
adhesive tapes for stationery or household purposes
adhesive bands for stationery or household purposes
adhesives [glues] for stationery or household purposes
advertisement boards of paper or cardboard
albums/scrapbooks
almanacs
announcement cards [stationery]
aquarelles/watercolors [paintings] / watercolours [paintings]
architects' models
arithmetical tables / calculating tables
artists' watercolour, saucers/artists' watercolour saucers/artists' watercolour saucers/watercolour [watercolour] saucers for artists
atlases
bags [envelopes, pouches] of paper or plastics, for packaging
bags for microwave cooking
balls for ball-point pens
bibs of paper
binding strips [bookbinding]
biological samples for use in microscopy [teaching materials]
blackboards
blotters
blueprints / plans
bookbinding material
bookbinding apparatus and machines [office equipment]
bookbindings
bookends
booklets
bookmarkers
books
bottle envelopes of cardboard or paper
bottle wrappers of cardboard or paper
boxes of cardboard or paper
cabinets for stationery [office requisites]
calendars
canvas for painting
carbon paper
cardboard
cardboard tubes
cards* / charts
cases for stamps [seals]
catalogues
chalk for lithography
chalk holders
charcoal pencils
chart pointers, non-electronic
chromolithographs [chromos] / chromos
cigar bands
clipboards
clips for offices / staples for offices
cloth for bookbinding / bookbinding cloth
coasters of paper
comic books
compasses for drawing
composing frames [printing]
composing sticks
conical paper bags
copying paper [stationery]
cords for bookbinding / bookbinding cords
correcting fluids [office requisites]
correcting ink [heliography]
correcting tapes [office requisites]
covers [stationery] / wrappers [stationery]
cream containers of paper
credit card imprinters, non-electric
desk mats
diagrams
document files [stationery]
document laminators for office use
document holders [stationery]
drawer liners of paper, perfumed or not
drawing pads
drawing pins / thumbtacks
drawing boards
drawing materials
drawing instruments
drawing sets
drawing pens
drawing rulers
drawing squares
drawing T-squares
duplicators
elastic bands for offices
electrocardiograph paper
electrotypes
embroidery designs [patterns]
engraving plates
engravings
envelope sealing machines, for offices
envelopes [stationery]
erasing products
erasing shields
etching needles
etchings
fabrics for bookbinding
face towels of paper
figurines [statuettes] of papier mâché
files [office requisites]
filter paper
filtering materials [paper]
finger-stalls [office requisites]
flags of paper
flower-pot covers of paper / covers of paper for flower pots
flyers
folders for papers / jackets for papers
folders [stationery]
forms, printed
fountain pens
franking machines for office use / postage meters for office use
French curves
galley racks [printing]
garbage bags of paper or of plastics
geographical maps
glue for stationery or household purposes / pastes for stationery or household purposes
gluten [glue] for stationery or household purposes
graining combs
graphic prints
graphic reproductions
graphic representations
greeting cards
gummed tape [stationery]
gummed cloth for stationery purposes
gums [adhesives] for stationery or household purposes
hand labelling appliances
hand-rests for painters
handkerchiefs of paper
handwriting specimens for copying
hat boxes of cardboard
hectographs
histological sections for teaching purposes
holders for stamps [seals]
holders for checkbooks [cheque books]
house painters' rollers
humidity control sheets of paper or plastic for foodstuff packaging
index cards [stationery]
indexes
Indian inks
ink
ink sticks
ink stones [ink reservoirs]
inking pads
inking ribbons
inking sheets for duplicators
inking sheets for document reproducing machines
inking ribbons for computer printers
inkstands
inkwells
isinglass for stationery or household purposes
labels, not of textile
loose-leaf binders
ledgers [books]
letter trays
lithographic works of art
lithographic stones
lithographs
magazines [periodicals]
manifolds [stationery]
manuals [handbooks] / handbooks [manuals]
marking chalk
marking pens [stationery]
mats for beer glasses
mimeograph apparatus and machines
modelling clay
modelling wax, not for dental purposes
modelling materials
modelling paste
moisteners [office requisites]
moisteners for gummed surfaces [office requisites]
money clips
moulds for modelling clays [artists' materials] / molds for modelling clays [artists' materials]
apparatus for mounting photographs
musical greeting cards
newsletters
newspapers
nibs
nibs of gold
note books
numbering apparatus
numbers [type]
obliterating stamps
office perforators
office requisites, except furniture
oleographs
packaging material made of starches
packing [cushioning, stuffing] materials of paper or cardboard
pads [stationery]
page holders
paint boxes [articles for use in school]
paint trays
paintbrushes
painters' brushes
painters' easels
palettes for painters
pamphlets
pantographs [drawing instruments]
paper
paper for recording machines
paper sheets [stationery]
paper clasps
luminous paper
paper tapes and cards for the recordal of computer programmes
paper for radiograms
paper ribbons
paper shredders for office use
paper knives [cutters] [office requisites] / paper cutters [office requisites] / paper knives [office requisites]
paper coffee filters
paper bows
paper-clips
paperweights
papier mâché
parchment paper
passport holders
pastels [crayons]
pen clips
pen cases / boxes for pens
pen wipers
pencil sharpening machines, electric or non-electric
pencil leads
pencil holders
pencil lead holders
pencil sharpeners, electric or non-electric
pencils
penholders
pens [office requisites]
perforated cards for Jacquard looms
periodicals
photo-engravings
photograph stands
photographs [printed]
pictures
placards of paper or cardboard
place mats of paper
plastic film for wrapping
plastic bubble packs for wrapping or packaging
plastic cling film, extensible, for palletization
plastics for modelling
polymer modelling clay
portraits
postage stamps
postcards
posters
printed timetables
printed matter
printed publications
printers' blankets, not of textile
printers' reglets
printing blocks
printing type
printing sets, portable [office requisites]
prints [engravings]
prospectuses
punches [office requisites]
rollers for typewriters
rosaries / chaplets
rubber erasers
school supplies [stationery]
scrapers [erasers] for offices
sealing stamps
sealing wax
sealing machines for offices
sealing compounds for stationery purposes
sealing wafers
seals [stamps]
self-adhesive tapes for stationery or household purposes
sewing patterns
sheets of reclaimed cellulose for wrapping
shields [paper seals]
signboards of paper or cardboard
silver paper
slate pencils
song books
spools for inking ribbons
square rulers
stamp pads
stamp stands
stamps [seals]
stands for pens and pencils
stapling presses [office requisites]
starch paste [adhesive] for stationery or household purposes
stationery
steatite [tailor's chalk]
steel letters
steel pens
stencil cases
stencil plates
stencils [stationery]
stencils
stickers [stationery]
stuffing of paper or cardboard
table linen of paper
table napkins of paper
tablecloths of paper
tablemats of paper
tags for index cards
tailors' chalk
teaching materials [except apparatus]
terrestrial globes
tickets
tissues of paper for removing make-up
toilet paper / hygienic paper
towels of paper
tracing patterns
tracing paper
tracing cloth
tracing needles for drawing purposes
trading cards other than for games
transfers [decalcomanias] / decalcomanias
transparencies [stationery]
trays for sorting and counting money
type [numerals and letters] / letters [type]
typewriter ribbons
typewriter keys
typewriters, electric or non-electric
vignetting apparatus
viscose sheets for wrapping
waxed paper
wood pulp board [stationery]
wood pulp paper
wrapping paper/packing paper
wristbands for the retention of writing instruments
writing slates
writing or drawing books
writing chalk
writing materials
writing paper
writing cases [stationery]
writing cases [sets]
writing brushes
writing instruments
writing board erasers
Xuan paper for Chinese painting and calligraphy
Also, Learn What is the Registration Cost of Filling a Trademark in India
Summing Up
Trademark Class 16 is one of the most significant classes for businesses dealing with paper goods, printed materials, and office supplies. Whether you're producing books, stationery, packaging materials, or marketing products, this class provides that legal safeguard of your brand. The registration of a trademark under Class 16 means your product stands out among others, instills consumers' trust in your brands, and prohibits the manufacturing of counterfeits. Securing your intellectual property under Class 16 can allow businesses to have a robust foundation to grow, protect your market share, and provide a well-respected business reputation within your industry.
Trademark Class 16 FAQs
Q1. What goods are classified under Trademark Class 16?
Class 16 includes books, magazines, office stationery, wrapping paper, and other printed matter.
Q2. Can I file trademark registration for e-books under Class 16?
No, typically, e-books or digital books are classified under Class 9.
Q 3. Does Class 16 include any items of office furniture?
No, office furniture is classified under Class 20.
Q4. What goods are excluded from Trademark Class 16?
Goods like office machinery, printed clothing, and medical publications are excluded from Class 16.
Q5. How does a trademark under Class 16 protect my brand?
It offers exclusive rights, prevents counterfeiting, and ensures legal protection for paper-based products.
