Common metals and their alloys, ores; metal materials for building and construction; transportable buildings of metal; non-electric cables and wires of common metal; small items of metal hardware; metal containers for storage or transport; safes.
Trademark applications and registrations in Class 6 over the past 15 years.
Class 6 covers common metals and their alloys, metal ores, metal building and construction materials, transportable buildings of metal, non-electric cables and wires of common metal, small items of metal hardware, metal containers for storage or transport, and safes. The class serves the construction, manufacturing, and hardware industries, where brand identity in structural materials and components carries significant commercial weight.
The class's top filers — Greenberg Traurig, Muncy Geissler Olds & Lowe, and Merchant & Gould — are prominent IP firms representing manufacturers across the metals and construction products sectors. The breadth of Class 6 ranges from massive steel producers branding structural beams to small hardware companies protecting marks on fasteners, hinges, and fittings. Metal containers for storage and transport, including shipping containers and industrial drums, also fall within this class and represent a growing filing segment.
The defining classification challenge in Class 6 is the metal versus non-metal divide with Class 19. Steel beams are Class 6; concrete beams are Class 19. Metal pipes are Class 6; plastic pipes are Class 19. This material-based distinction is straightforward in principle but creates complications for companies that manufacture both metal and non-metal variants of the same product, often requiring filings in both classes. Another frequent pitfall involves the boundary with Class 20: finished metal furniture belongs in Class 20, not Class 6, because Nice Classification groups furniture by function rather than material. Precious metals are excluded entirely — they fall under Class 14 regardless of their form.
Construction and building materials brands typically file across Classes 6, 19, and 37, covering metal materials, non-metal materials, and construction services. Hardware manufacturers often pair Class 6 with Class 7 for power tools and Class 8 for hand tools. Companies producing metal storage solutions should consider adding Class 20 for non-metal containers and Class 39 for storage services to complete their portfolio coverage.
Class 6 includes mainly unwrought and partly wrought common metals, including ores, as well as certain goods made of common metals.
Editorial deep dives spanning Nice Class 6 and adjacent classes
When the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board cleared its opposition docket in Q4 2025, the people who filed the oppositions mostly walked away winners.
On the last day of the quarter, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board sustained an opposition brought by the heirs of Diego Armando Maradona against Sattvica S.A.
When the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board decided an opposition on the merits this quarter, the party bringing the challenge usually won.
Explore 73,173 live trademarks in Metal Building Materials & Hardware. Search by name, owner, or serial number — then filter by Class 6.
Search TrademarksClass 6 covers building materials made of metal (steel beams, metal pipes, aluminum panels). Class 19 covers non-metallic building materials (concrete, bricks, wood, plastic pipes). The material composition determines the classification.
Metal furniture belongs in Class 20, not Class 6. Class 6 covers raw metal materials and hardware, while Class 20 covers finished furniture regardless of material.
No. Jewelry made from precious metals belongs in Class 14. Class 6 covers common metals (steel, aluminum, copper) and their alloys used in construction and hardware, not precious metals used in jewelry.
Yes. Metal containers for storage or transport, including shipping containers, metal drums, and metal crates, belong in Class 6. Non-metal containers (plastic bins, wooden crates) belong in Class 20.
Metal building components belong in Class 6 regardless of their manufacturing method. Whether a steel bracket is traditionally forged or 3D-printed, its classification is determined by the finished product (metal hardware), not the production process.
Yes. Transportable buildings of metal, including prefabricated metal sheds, modular metal structures, and metal carports, are specifically listed in Class 6. Non-metal prefabricated buildings belong in Class 19.
Non-electric cables and wires of common metal belong in Class 6. Electric cables and wires are classified in Class 9. The distinction is whether the wire conducts electricity (Class 9) or serves a structural or mechanical purpose (Class 6).
Metal signs, nameplates, and license plate frames made of common metals are generally classified in Class 6 as small items of metal hardware. However, if a metal sign is primarily decorative art, it could fall under Class 20 or Class 26.
Hardware brands typically file across Class 6 (metal hardware and fasteners), Class 8 (hand tools), Class 7 (power tools), and Class 20 (non-metal hardware). Adding Class 35 for retail store services and Class 37 for installation services creates comprehensive coverage.