What Is Nice Class 2?
Nice Class 2 is the trademark classification for paints, coatings, and colorants. It covers paints, varnishes, lacquers, and protective coatings; pigments, dyes, and colorants; primers and undercoats; anti-corrosion and wood-preservative preparations; and printing inks and toners in some cases. It is the finished-color class — the products that color, coat, and protect surfaces, sitting one step downstream from the raw chemicals of Class 1.
The defining distinction is finished product versus raw input. A pigment or finished paint ready for use is Class 2; the raw industrial chemicals and resins that go into making it are Class 1. That line, along with the boundary to art and craft materials in Class 16, is where most paint and coating brands need to think carefully about classification.
What Class 2 Covers
- Paints, including house paint, industrial paint, and automotive paint
- Varnishes, lacquers, and clear protective coatings
- Primers, undercoats, and surface preparations
- Pigments, dyes, and colorants
- Anti-corrosion and rust-prevention preparations
- Wood preservatives and stains
- Printing inks and toners (in applicable cases)
- Metals in foil and powder form for painting and decorating
Exclusions: raw industrial chemicals and resins are Class 1; artists' and craft paints can fall in Class 2, but many art supplies, crayons, and writing inks for stationery sit in Class 16; and cosmetic colorants like nail polish are Class 3. The same "color" product can land in different classes depending on whether it coats a wall, draws on paper, or goes on a person.
Boundary note: Nail polish is not Class 2 — it is a cosmetic in Class 3. Class 2 is for paints and coatings applied to surfaces and objects, not to the body. This catches out beauty brands that assume "polish" and "paint" share a class.
Color, Brand Identity, and the Pantone Example
Class 2 is the class most directly about color, and color is one of the most distinctive elements a brand can own. The paint and coatings industry is built on color systems and recognizable brand identities. Pantone, whose color-matching system is a globally recognized standard, anchors part of its business in this space. Separately, the broader question of whether a brand can own a specific color as a trademark — distinct from the products in Class 2 — is one of the hardest and most fascinating areas of trademark law, covered in our guide on whether you can trademark a color.
The Class 1 / Class 2 Boundary
Paint and coating manufacturers frequently operate across Class 1 and Class 2. The raw chemicals, resins, and binders are Class 1 inputs; the finished paints, varnishes, and pigments are Class 2 products. A company that produces both the underlying chemistry and the finished coatings needs both classes. Our Class 1 guide covers the raw-input side of this relationship.
Notable Brands in Class 2
- Sherwin-Williams — one of the largest paint and coatings brands, with a deep Class 2 portfolio
- Behr — consumer house-paint marks
- Pantone — color-matching and pigment systems central to design and manufacturing
- Automotive and industrial coating brands — specialty finishes and protective coatings
Common Filing Mistakes
- Filing raw chemicals in Class 2: industrial chemicals and resins are Class 1.
- Filing nail polish in Class 2: cosmetic colorants are Class 3.
- Filing art crayons in Class 2: many art and stationery materials are Class 16.
- Single-class filing: manufacturers spanning chemistry and coatings need Class 1 and Class 2.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Class 1 and Class 2?
Class 1 covers raw industrial and scientific chemicals — reagents, resins, and inputs. Class 2 covers finished paints, varnishes, pigments, and coatings ready for use. The line is processing and finish: a raw chemical input is Class 1; a finished color or protective coating is Class 2. Manufacturers spanning both often file in both classes.
Is nail polish in Class 2?
No. Nail polish is a cosmetic in Class 3, not Class 2. Class 2 covers paints and coatings applied to surfaces, walls, wood, and objects — not products applied to the body. Cosmetic colorants of all kinds belong in Class 3.
Where do artists' paints and art supplies go?
Artists' paints can fall in Class 2 as colorants, but many art and craft materials — crayons, writing inks, and stationery supplies — are in Class 16. The classification depends on the specific product and its use, so art-supply brands should map each item to the right class.
Can I trademark a specific color for my brand?
It is possible but difficult, and it is separate from registering a paint product in Class 2. To own a color as a trademark, you must prove it is non-functional and has acquired distinctiveness so consumers associate it with your brand. Most attempts fail, but successful color marks can be highly valuable.
Search Class 2 Before You File
Paint, coating, and pigment names overlap with adjacent chemical and cosmetic classes, so clearance should span Class 2 and its neighbors. Use tmarkmetric to browse registered Class 2 trademarks, see which names are taken, and search the broader registry before you commit to a product line or color system.