The US Patent Office will use new international categories for trademarks starting in 2026

The US Patent and Trademark Office will adopt new international classification rules for goods and services. This means companies will need to use updated categories when registering trademarks in the US, aligning with global standards.

Every company that registers a trademark in the US, or plans to, will need to adjust its internal processes. These changes are not just administrative; they define how a company's products and services are legally categorized. This can affect how easily a company can protect its brand across different countries.