🎨 Nice Class 2: Paints & Coatings
The EUIPO register holds 36,486 trademarks in Class 2, the class for paints, varnishes, dyes and inks (as of July 2026). (as of July 2026).
36,486
Marks in the EU register
21,179
Registered with the EUIPO
-1 %
Growth 2020–2024
58 %
Word mark share
Class 2 is one of the more compact goods classes: it covers paints, varnishes, dyes and inks, along with rust and wood preservatives. The EUIPO register holds 36,486 trademarks in Class 2, of which 21,179 are registered (as of July 2026, EUIPO register data). Demand is remarkably steady: 1,574 new registrations in 2020 and 1,563 in 2024, a dip of just 1 percent, with 1,369 added in 2025. The top of the filing table holds a surprise: it is not a global giant but Brillux, a family-owned company from Münster, that leads with 583 trademarks, ahead of paint powerhouse Akzo Nobel (536), PPG (240), DAW (226) and British heritage brand Farrow & Ball (160). Word marks account for 58 percent of the class, and many manufacturers also protect their product lines as figurative marks. For founders, the takeaway is simple: the class is small, but the established manufacturers keep their portfolios very busy.
What belongs in Class 2?
Class 2 covers colorants and coatings: paints and varnishes for trade and industry, artists' paints, dyes, printer inks and toners, plus anti-rust and wood preservation products. A few boundary lines matter: the chemical raw materials used to make paint belong in Class 1, cleaning and bleaching preparations in Class 3, and paper, stationery and paintbrushes in Class 16. And if you apply paint rather than sell it, offering painting and decorating services, you need service Class 37, not Class 2.
Typical examples: Paints, varnishes, printing inks, anti-rust preparations
New EUIPO registrations per year in Class 2
Most active applicants in Class 2
| # | Applicant | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brillux Gmbh & Co Kg | 583 |
| 2 | Akzo Nobel Coatings International Bv | 536 |
| 3 | Ppg Industries Ohio Inc | 240 |
| 4 | Daw Se | 226 |
| 5 | Farrow & Ball Holdings Limited | 160 |
| 6 | Teknos Group Oy | 144 |
| 7 | Sun Chemical Bv | 127 |
| 8 | Cromology Italia Spa | 121 |
| 9 | Swimc Llc | 115 |
| 10 | Basf Se | 101 |
Word mark or figurative mark?
Often combined with
Start by checking whether you actually sell goods or provide a service, because that determines the right class. In practice, Class 2 is most often combined with Class 1 (chemical raw materials), Class 3 (cleaning and care products) and Class 16 (paper, stationery and creative supplies). Keep your list of goods honest all the same: file only for what you genuinely plan to offer, since unused goods can make your mark vulnerable later. And even though the class is small, search the EUIPO register before filing, as the big manufacturers' product line names are spread densely across it.
Common mistakes with Class 2
The classic mistake: confusing goods with services. A painting and decorating business needs Class 37 for the work itself; Class 2 only becomes relevant once it sells its own paint under the brand. Second mistake: overlooking neighbouring classes. If you also offer raw materials and primers (Class 1), cleaning or care products (Class 3), or accessories such as brushes and creative supplies (Class 16), skipping those classes leaves gaps in your protection. And third, the modest size of the class tempts founders to skip the search. That is a mistake: Brillux alone holds 583 trademarks, and the established manufacturers protect many of their product lines as separate marks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What belongs in Nice Class 2?
Class 2 covers paints, varnishes, dyes, printer inks and toners, plus anti-rust and wood preservation products, and artists' paints belong here too. The chemical raw materials for making paint fall under Class 1 instead, and painting and decorating as a service belongs in Class 37.
Who files the most trademarks in Class 2?
According to EUIPO register data (as of July 2026), Brillux leads with 583 trademarks, ahead of Akzo Nobel (536), PPG (240), DAW (226) and Farrow & Ball (160). Notably, a German family-owned company outranks the international groups. The class is shaped by manufacturers who protect many product lines as separate marks.
I run a painting and decorating business, do I need Class 2?
Usually not. The service itself, painting and decorating work, belongs in service Class 37. You only need Class 2 once you sell your own paints or varnishes under your brand, for example your own line of wall paints. At that point, filing both classes together makes sense.
Which classes are typically combined with Class 2?
Most often Class 1 for chemical raw materials, Class 3 for cleaning and care products, and Class 16 for paper, stationery and creative supplies. A chalk paint maker that also sells wood care products and creative accessories covers the typical gaps with Classes 2, 3 and 16.
Sources
EUIPO – European Union Intellectual Property Office: register data on EU trade marks and international registrations with EU protection, as of July 2026.
WIPO – Nice Classification: class definitions and headings (11th edition).
Methodology: own analysis by markencheck.ai; counted per filing entity, name variants merged.
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