Trademark Class 16: Paper, Printed Matter, Stationery and Packaging
Class 16 covers paper and cardboard, printed matter, stationery and office requisites, artists’ materials, teaching materials and plastic packaging. Stationery brands, publishers, printers and packaging makers file here.
What class 16 covers
The official Class 16 heading reads: paper and cardboard; printed matter; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery and office requisites, except furniture; adhesives for stationery or household purposes; drawing materials and materials for artists; paintbrushes; instructional and teaching materials; plastic sheets, films and bags for wrapping and packaging; printers’ type, printing blocks.
The explanatory note says the class mainly covers paper, cardboard, certain goods made of them, and office requisites. It includes paper cutters, document files and passport holders, typewriters and pencil sharpeners, painters’ easels and rollers, paper bibs and handkerchiefs, and paper bags, envelopes and containers for packaging. The current edition is NCL 13-2026, in force from 1 January 2026, and the Trade Marks Registry follows it.
Common goods in class 16
Stationery
- Notebooks, registers and diaries
- Pens, pencils and pencil sharpeners
- Document files and paper clips
- Adhesives for stationery
Printed matter
- Books, magazines and newspapers
- Printed sheet music
- Posters, calendars and photographs
- Instructional and teaching material
Paper and packaging
- Paper and cardboard
- Paper bags, envelopes and cartons
- Plastic films and bags for packaging
- Tissues and paper handkerchiefs
What is not in class 16
Paper goods are classed by purpose. The WIPO note sends these elsewhere:
| Goods | Correct class |
|---|---|
| Photographic paper | Class 1 |
| Paints | Class 2 |
| Hand tools for artists, such as spatulas and sculptors’ chisels | Class 8 |
| Audiovisual teaching apparatus | Class 9 |
| Paper plates and cups | Class 21 |
| Cigarette paper | Class 34 |
Office furniture is also outside Class 16. The heading says “except furniture”, so do not list desks or cabinets here.
Who usually files in class 16
Making stationery
Makers of notebooks, registers, pens and school supplies selling under a house brand.
Publishing and printing
Book and guide publishers. In practice, a Faridabad coaching institute printing its own study modules under its brand adds Class 16 for them.
Making packaging
Corrugated box, paper bag and plastic packaging film manufacturers.
Tips before filing
Search Class 16 alongside your main class
Run a trademark search in Class 16 and in the class of your main business, since many brands use Class 16 for printed material that supports their service.
Name the paper goods exactly
Write “notebooks, registers and exam pads” or “corrugated cartons for packaging” rather than “paper products”.
Keep tableware out
Paper plates and cups are Class 21. If you make both bags and plates, file both classes.
Use the class for printed material
Branded books and brochures are Class 16 goods. Our trademark registration team can add it to your main filing.
Frequently asked questions
Do paper bags and cartons fall in Class 16?
Yes. Paper bags, envelopes and containers for packaging made of paper or cardboard are listed in the Class 16 explanatory note. Plastic films and bags for wrapping and packaging are in the Class 16 heading too. Packaging makers usually file in Class 16 alone. We confirm your product list and draft the goods description in accepted terms.
Are paper plates and cups in Class 16?
No. Table plates and cups of paper fall in Class 21, because goods are classed by function. The Class 16 note lists them as excluded. A disposable tableware brand needs Class 21, and Class 16 only if it also sells items like paper napkins or bags. We sort each product before filing.
Should a coaching institute file in Class 16?
Often yes. Printed study material, books and teaching material fall in Class 16. The teaching service itself sits in a different class. Many institutes file both, so the brand is protected on classes and on books. We look at how you use the name and recommend the classes to file now.
Which class covers notebooks and pens?
Notebooks, pens, pencils and other stationery fall in Class 16, which covers stationery and office requisites except furniture. School supply brands usually file only Class 16. If you also sell school bags or water bottles, those sit in separate classes. We review your full range so the application covers your core products.
What is the government fee for filing in Class 16?
Form TM-A costs ₹4,500 per class for an individual, startup or small enterprise filing online, and ₹9,000 per class for others. Paper filing costs ₹5,000 or ₹10,000. Each class costs the same. Our professional fee is quoted separately upfront. Send us your brand and products, and we will give you the exact total.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
The official Form TM-A fee is ₹4,500 per class for an individual, startup or small enterprise filing online, and ₹9,000 per class for others (₹5,000 and ₹10,000 on paper). IP India charges it for each class and each mark. The lower rate covers entities with Startup India recognition and small enterprises under the MSMED Act, 2006, often shown through Udyam registration.
Ready to begin?
Tell us what your brand prints, packs or sells, and we will file your Class 16 trademark.