USPTO Unveils AI-Powered Examination Tools: Implications for Trademark Applicants | Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

On March 19, 2026, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) launched the AI-powered Trademark Classification Agentic Codification Tool (Class ACT) to enhance trademark application pre-processing. This innovative tool automatically assigns international Classes, design search codes, and pseudo marks to applications, dramatically reducing processing time from five months to mere minutes. For trademark owners and applicants, Class ACT means faster examinations, quicker searches, and clearer application statuses, significantly benefiting marks with logos, unconventional spellings, or missing classifications. While USPTO staff will still review Class ACT’s assignments, the immediate data availability aids both Examining Attorneys and the public. This initiative also aims to reduce delays in substantive examinations and backlog risks. The USPTO has a history of technological advancements, previously utilizing tools to identify and cancel fraudulent trademarks. With more AI tools on the horizon, USPTO’s modernization efforts promise improved speed, consistency, and predictability in trademark prosecution, enhancing the overall application experience.

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