Trademark Class 16: Paper Goods | Complete Filing Guide
Everything you need to file a trademark in Class 16. Covers paper, printed matter, stationery, and office supplies.
Class 16 covers paper products, printed materials, stationery, and office supplies. Publishers, stationery brands, and office supply companies file here.
What Class 16 Covers
Class 16 includes paper, cardboard, and goods made from these materials. It also covers printed matter, stationery, and office requisites.
The class covers:
- Printed matter - Books, magazines, newspapers, catalogs
- Stationery - Notebooks, envelopes, greeting cards
- Office supplies - Pens, pencils, staplers, tape
- Art supplies - Paintbrushes, canvas, drawing paper
- Packaging - Cardboard boxes, paper bags, labels
Included in Class 16
Printed Matter:
- Books
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Catalogs
- Brochures
- Posters
- Calendars
Stationery:
- Notebooks
- Notepads
- Envelopes
- Greeting cards
- Postcards
- Writing paper
- Planners
Office Supplies:
- Pens
- Pencils
- Staplers
- Paper clips
- Rubber bands
- Tape
- Markers
Art Supplies:
- Paintbrushes
- Canvas
- Drawing paper
- Easels
- Palettes
- Sketch pads
Packaging:
- Cardboard boxes
- Paper bags
- Wrapping paper
- Labels
- Tags
NOT Included in Class 16
These similar items belong in other classes:
- E-books and digital publications - Class 9 (Electronics)
- Printing machines - Class 7 (Machinery)
- Printing services - Class 40 (Manufacturing Services)
- Publishing services - Class 41 (Education & Entertainment)
Print vs. Digital
This distinction matters for publishers:
Class 16 (this class): Physical books, magazines, and printed materials.
Class 9: E-books, digital magazines, downloadable publications.
Class 41: Publishing services (the act of publishing content).
If you publish both print and digital, you may need multiple classes.
Common Goods Descriptions
Using pre-approved descriptions from the USPTO Trademark ID Manual avoids the $200 custom description surcharge.
Popular pre-approved descriptions for Class 16:
- Printed matter
- Stationery
- Office requisites
- Books
- Magazines
- Pens
- Paper
- Greeting cards
Well-Known Marks in Class 16
These recognizable brands are registered in Class 16:
- Hallmark - Greeting cards
- Moleskine - Notebooks and journals
- Sharpie - Markers and pens
- Post-it - Adhesive notes
- Strathmore - Art paper
- Mead - School supplies
Filing Tips for Class 16
Print Publications Need Specificity
For magazines and books, specify the subject matter:
- Good: "Magazines in the field of technology"
- Good: "Books about cooking"
- Bad: "Printed matter"
- Bad: "Publications"
Consider Your Full Product Line
Publishers often need multiple classes:
| What You Offer | Class |
|---|---|
| Printed books and magazines | Class 16 |
| E-books | Class 9 |
| Publishing services | Class 41 |
| Online subscriptions | Class 41 |
Specimens for Paper Goods
For Class 16 trademarks, acceptable specimens include:
- Book covers showing the mark
- Product labels on stationery
- Packaging showing the mark
- Website pages where products are sold
Related Classes
If you are filing in Class 16, you may also need:
- Class 9: Electronics & Software - Digital publications
- Class 35: Advertising & Business - Retail store services
- Class 40: Manufacturing Services - Printing services
- Class 41: Education & Entertainment - Publishing services
Filing Fees
Current USPTO fees for Class 16 trademark applications (2025):
| Filing Type | Fee per Class |
|---|---|
| Electronic filing (ID Manual description) | $350 |
| Electronic filing (custom description) | $550 |
| Paper filing | $1,000 |
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