Paints, varnishes, lacquers; preservatives against rust and against deterioration of wood; colorants, dyes; inks for printing, marking and engraving; raw natural resins; metals in foil and powder form for use in painting, decorating, printing and art.
Trademark applications and registrations in Class 2 over the past 15 years.
Class 2 covers paints, varnishes, lacquers, preservatives against rust and wood deterioration, colorants, dyes, inks for printing, marking and engraving, raw natural resins, and metals in foil and powder form for painting and decorating. It is a moderately sized class concentrated in the coatings, printing, and colorant industries.
The top filing entities — SWIMC LLC (the parent of Sherwin-Williams), Ladas & Parry, and Calfee Halter & Griswold — reflect the dominance of large paint and coatings manufacturers alongside international IP firms managing global colorant portfolios. The class covers a commercially significant range of products from architectural paints to specialized industrial coatings, printing inks, and food-grade dyes.
Classification disputes in Class 2 most frequently arise at the boundary with Class 3. Colorants and dyes for industrial, artistic, or printing purposes belong in Class 2; colorants used in cosmetics belong in Class 3. Nail polish, despite being a type of lacquer, is a cosmetic and falls under Class 3, not Class 2. Ink presents another common confusion point: printing inks as raw materials are Class 2, while ink pens as finished stationery products are Class 16, and tattoo inks are Class 2. Artist paints in tubes are Class 2, but paintbrushes are Class 16.
Brands in the coatings industry typically file across Classes 1, 2, and 17, covering chemical solvents, the paints themselves, and insulating or protective materials. Printing ink manufacturers often pair Class 2 with Class 7 for printing machinery. For companies producing both consumer paint and industrial coatings, a coordinated filing strategy across these classes prevents gaps that competitors could exploit in adjacent product categories.
Class 2 includes mainly paints, colorants and preparations used for protection against corrosion.
Editorial deep dives spanning Nice Class 2 and adjacent classes
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Explore 21,495 live trademarks in Paints, Coatings & Colorants. Search by name, owner, or serial number — then filter by Class 2.
Search TrademarksNo. Colorants used in cosmetics belong in Class 3. Class 2 covers dyes and colorants for industrial, artistic, and printing purposes, not for personal care products.
Class 2 covers inks for printing, marking, and engraving as raw materials. Class 16 covers printed matter and stationery items. If you sell ink as a product (e.g., printer cartridges), it belongs in Class 2.
No. Nail polish is a cosmetic product and belongs in Class 3. Class 2 covers paints, varnishes, and coatings for surfaces, not personal beauty products.
Yes. Tattoo inks are classified in Class 2 as inks for marking purposes. This is a common point of confusion since the application is on skin, but the USPTO treats tattoo ink as an ink product, not a cosmetic.
Food colorants and food-grade dyes belong in Class 2 when sold as raw coloring materials. However, if the colorant is an ingredient in a finished food product, the food itself would be classified in Class 29 or 30.
Preservatives against deterioration of wood are specifically listed in Class 2. Chemical wood treatments that function primarily as industrial chemicals rather than protective coatings may belong in Class 1, but most wood stains and sealants are Class 2.
Yes. Automotive paints, primers, and clear coats are classified in Class 2 whether they are for original manufacturing or aftermarket refinishing. The spray equipment used to apply the paint would be in Class 7.
Yes. Paint manufacturers commonly file across Classes 1 (chemical solvents and thinners), 2 (the paints and coatings), 7 (spray equipment), 17 (protective coatings for insulation), and 37 (painting services). A multi-class strategy prevents competitors from occupying adjacent product categories.
No. Digital color matching software belongs in Class 9 (software) or Class 42 (SaaS). Class 2 covers physical colorants, dyes, and pigments only — not digital color systems or standards.