The USPTO Uses AI for Trademark Classification. Here's Why That Matters.

**TL;DR: In March 2026, the USPTO launched "Class ACT" — an AI agent that assigns trademark classes in 5 minutes instead of 5 months. The government just validated what TradeMaker has been saying from day one: AI-powered trademark classification works.** ## What Is Class ACT?

On March 19, 2026, the USPTO announced the "Trademark Classification Agentic Codification Tool" — **Class ACT** for short.

This AI agent handles three tasks: 1. **International class assignment** — Determining which of the 45 classes an application belongs to 2. **Design search codes** — Categorizing logos and design elements 3. **Pseudo marks** — Normalizing unconventional spellings for accurate searching

The result? A task that took USPTO employees **5 months** now takes **5 minutes**.

*"Classification and design search coding takes five months? How about five minutes or even five seconds."* — USPTO Director John A. Squires

## Why This Matters ### 1. AI classification is now government-approved

When someone asks "Can AI really get my trademark class right?" — the USPTO trusts AI to classify every single application that comes through their door. The technology is production-grade, deployed at the highest level.

### 2. The industry is shifting fast

Class ACT isn't the end. The USPTO stated: *"More AI trademark solutions are coming soon."* AI image search for logos launched just one month later in April 2026.

### 3. The access gap is widening

The catch? To use the USPTO's AI tools, you need a USPTO.gov account with ID.me verification. The best classification AI doesn't help if you can't access it.

## Where TradeMaker Fits

We've been building AI-powered class selection from day one — before Class ACT was announced.

Feature	USPTO Class ACT	TradeMaker
AI classification	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Requires .gov account	✅ Yes	❌ No
ID Manual descriptions	❌ Internal only	✅ Yes
Real-time search	❌ Processing tool	✅ Yes
Free to use	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Clearance search	❌ No	✅ Yes
Compliance education	❌ No	✅ Yes

## The $200/Class Connection

The USPTO charges an extra **$200 per class** for free-form descriptions instead of pre-approved ID Manual language. That's $600 extra on a 3-class filing.

TradeMaker's AI class picker is designed to: 1. Find the right classes for your business 2. Match you with ID Manual-compliant descriptions 3. Save you the $200/class surcharge automatically

Scenario	1 Class	3 Classes
Direct filing (free-form)	$550	$1,650
Direct filing (ID Manual)	$350	$1,050
With TradeMaker	$350 + platform fee	$1,050 + platform fee

## The Bottom Line

The USPTO's own AI validates what we've been building. AI trademark classification isn't experimental — it's the new standard. The question isn't "Should I use AI?" The question is: "Do I want to deal with government bureaucracy to access it, or use a tool built for real people?"

**[Try our AI class search →](/class-search)** — describe your business and find your classes in seconds. Free, no account required.

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*TradeMaker is a trademark filing preparation platform. We do not provide legal advice. For complex trademark matters, consult a licensed attorney. We recommend Melivate Group (melivate.com).*