What Is Nice Class 16?
Nice Class 16 is the trademark classification for paper goods, printed matter, and stationery. It covers paper and cardboard, printed books, magazines, newspapers, and periodicals, plus the entire world of stationery and office supplies — pens, pencils, markers, notebooks, notepads, folders, and adhesives — along with printed packaging materials, posters, calendars, and instructional and teaching materials.
It is one of the oldest classes in the system, dating to a time when "printed matter" was a dominant commercial category. Today its center of gravity has shifted as media moves online, but it remains essential for publishers of physical products, stationery and art-supply brands, and any company that puts its mark on printed packaging.
What Class 16 Covers
- Paper, cardboard, and goods made from them
- Printed books, magazines, newspapers, journals, and periodicals
- Stationery: notebooks, notepads, diaries, envelopes, and letterhead
- Writing instruments: pens, pencils, markers, and crayons
- Office supplies: folders, binders, paper clips, staplers, and adhesives
- Printed packaging materials, bags, and wrapping
- Posters, calendars, greeting cards, and printed art prints
- Instructional and teaching materials (in printed form)
The crucial exclusions are about format and service. A printed book is Class 16, but an e-book or digital publication is Class 9. The service of publishing — producing and releasing content — is Class 41, separate from the physical product. And printing services performed for others are Class 40. The same content can therefore touch three classes depending on whether you mean the paper object, the digital file, or the act of publishing.
Boundary note: A magazine brand that publishes both a print edition and a digital edition needs Class 16 (the printed magazine) and Class 9 (the digital version), and if it offers online content as a service, Class 41. Modern media brands routinely file across all three to cover the full product.
The Physical / Digital / Service Triangle
No class illustrates the impact of digitization better than Class 16. Twenty years ago a publisher filed in Class 16 and was largely done. Today the same content exists as a printed object (Class 16), a downloadable or streamed file (Class 9), and an online service or platform (Class 41 or 42). A book brand, a magazine, or an educational publisher has to decide which of those it actually offers and file accordingly.
For brands whose content is primarily digital, Class 16 may be secondary — the printed merchandise rather than the core product. For stationery and art-supply brands, Class 16 remains the primary home. Mapping the brand to its real formats prevents both over-filing and gaps. Our Class 41 guide covers the publishing-as-a-service side, and the Class 9 guide covers digital publications.
Notable Brands in Class 16
- Crayola — crayons, markers, and art supplies, with one of the most recognizable Class 16 portfolios in consumer goods
- Sharpie — the marker brand name and design, defended across writing-instrument categories
- Moleskine — notebooks and stationery, where the brand name and product trade dress carry significant value
- Major publishers and magazine titles — masthead and title marks for printed periodicals remain core Class 16 assets
Packaging and Trade Dress
One underused strength of Class 16 is printed packaging. Because the class covers paper and cardboard packaging materials, it can support protection for the printed elements of a product's packaging — which in turn feeds into a broader trade-dress strategy. A consumer brand whose distinctive box or wrapper is part of its identity may find Class 16 relevant alongside its core product class. This is a niche but valuable angle for brands where the packaging itself is part of how customers recognize them.
Common Filing Mistakes
- Filing an e-book in Class 16: digital publications are Class 9, not Class 16.
- Confusing publishing with the product: the publishing service is Class 41; the printed object is Class 16.
- Missing the digital class: print-and-digital media brands need Class 9 alongside Class 16.
- Descriptive titles: generic or descriptive publication names face the usual refusals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are books in Class 16 or Class 9?
It depends on the format. A printed book is in Class 16 as printed matter. An e-book or digital publication is in Class 9 as downloadable electronic content. A title released in both formats is typically filed in both classes, and if it is offered as an ongoing online service, Class 41 may apply as well.
What class is a magazine in?
A printed magazine, newspaper, or periodical is in Class 16. The digital edition is Class 9, and providing online publications or content as a service falls in Class 41. Media brands that publish across print and digital usually file across these classes to cover the full product.
Is publishing a Class 16 or Class 41 activity?
The printed product is Class 16. The service of publishing — producing, editing, and releasing content for others or to the public — is Class 41. Printing performed as a service for third parties is Class 40. So "publishing" can implicate Class 16, 40, or 41 depending on whether you mean the object, the printing, or the publishing service.
Can Class 16 protect my product packaging?
Yes, to a degree. Class 16 covers paper and cardboard packaging materials, so it can be relevant to protecting printed packaging, which may support a broader trade-dress strategy. The core product still needs its own class, but for brands where distinctive packaging is part of their identity, Class 16 can be a useful complement.
Search Class 16 Before You File
Stationery, publishing, and printed-goods names overlap with adjacent media classes, so clearance should span Class 16 and its digital and service neighbors. Use tmarkmetric to browse registered Class 16 trademarks, see which publication and stationery names are taken, and search the wider registry before you commit to a title, a masthead, or product branding. Decide which formats you actually offer and file across the right classes.