Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73
§1112 Classification of goods and services; registration in plurality of classes
Title 15 › Chapter CHAPTER 22— - TRADEMARKS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 1112
Summary
The Director of the Patent and Trademark Office can set up categories for goods and services to make the office easier to run, but this must not change applicants' or owners' legal rights. A person may apply to register a mark for any goods or services they already use or plan to use in commerce. If an application covers items in more than one category, the filer must pay the fee for each category, and the Office may issue a single registration certificate.
Full Legal Text
Title 15, §1112
Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Director may establish a classification of goods and services, for convenience of Patent and Trademark Office administration, but not to limit or extend the applicant’s or registrant’s rights. The applicant may apply to register a mark for any or all of the goods or services on or in connection with which he or she is using or has a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce: Provided, That if the Director by regulation permits the filing of an application for the registration of a mark for goods or services which fall within a plurality of classes, a fee equaling the sum of the fees for filing an application in each class shall be paid, and the Director may issue a single certificate of registration for such mark.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
Act May 4, 1906, ch. 2081, § 2, 34 Stat. 169.
Amendments
1999—Pub. L. 106–113 substituted “Director” for “Commissioner” wherever appearing. 1988—Pub. L. 100–667 inserted “or registrant’s” after “applicant’s” and substituted “may apply” for “may file an application”, “goods or services on or in connection with which he or she is using or has a bona fide intention to use the mark in commerce:” for “goods and services upon or in connection with which he is actually using the mark:”, and “Provided, That if the Commissioner by regulation permits the filing of an application for the registration of a mark for goods or services which fall” for “Provided, That when such goods or services fall”. 1975—Pub. L. 93–596 substituted “Patent and Trademark Office” for “Patent Office”. 1962—Pub. L. 87–772, among other changes, substituted “may” for “shall”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1999 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 106–113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4731] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1 of Title 35, Patents.
Effective Date
of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–667 effective one year after Nov. 16, 1988, see section 136 of Pub. L. 100–667, set out as a note under section 1051 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1975 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 93–596 effective Jan. 2, 1975, see section 4 of Pub. L. 93–596, set out as a note under section 1111 of this title. Repeal and Effect on Existing RightsRepeal of inconsistent provisions, effect of this chapter on pending proceedings and existing registrations and rights under prior acts, see notes set out under section 1051 of this title.
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For
Transfer of Functions
of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of Commerce, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of Commerce, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 5 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1263, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
15 U.S.C. § 1112
Title 15 — Commerce and Trade
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73