Class 2 basically includes paints, varnishes, lacquers and other preparations that are used as coatings, either for decorative or protective purposes. Very few coatings are found in classes other than Class 2, the most significant group being building materials in Cl. 19, such as materials for making and coating roads, fireproof cement coatings, bituminous coatings for roofing, and the more general entry "coatings [building materials]". Although some of these goods may be considered to have a protective function, they are nevertheless in Cl. 19 because their primary use is in building.
The protective coatings in Class 2 are usually in the form of paints or oils used on wood to prevent deterioration or on metal to prevent rust. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that oils for the preservation of masonry and leather are in Cl. 4 together with industrial oils, and oils for the preservation of food are in Cl. 1.
As well as coatings, such as paints, that may be used to add colour to a surface, Class 2 also includes colorants and dyes in general. Some exceptions are salts for colouring metals which are in Cl. 1 and hair colorants in Cl. 3. It should be noted though that colorants for food and beverages do belong to Class 2 rather than one of the "food classes". Colorants for the restoration of furniture in the form of markers also belong to Class 2 as they are considered to be primarily a colorant rather than a marker which could be in Cl. 16.
Class 2 also includes inks for printing, marking and engraving meaning that goods such as ink and toner for printers or photocopiers belong to this class. Ink for writing, or in the form of goods like inking pads, belongs to Cl. 16, however.
It should also be noted that whilst raw natural resins are in Class 2, unprocessed artificial resins are in Cl. 1 and semi-processed artificial resins are in Cl. 17. Raw natural resins are in Class 2 because they are used in primers, protective coatings, paints, lacquers and varnishes, which are all goods belonging to Class 2.
Mordants are goods which could belong to either Cl. 1 or Class 2, depending on their nature. The mordants in Cl. 1 are corrosive chemicals (usually acids) used primarily for etching, whereas the mordants in Class 2 are those used mainly to prepare a surface to accept a dye. As with the raw natural resins, the function of these mordants and their close association with other Class 2 goods justify their inclusion in Class 2, rather than in Cl. 1.