Which related classes should I clear alongside Class 42?

Class 9 — Downloadable software and apps are the closely related Class 9. Class 35 — Business and data services around the software can fall in Class 35. Class 38 — Transmission and communication features may implicate Class 38. Likelihood of confusion is assessed across related goods and services, not just the exact class.

How do I monitor new Class 42 filings?

The USPTO does not watch for confusable filings on your behalf. You can read the weekly Trademark Official Gazette yourself, or set a watch term so new Class 42 filings that match your mark trigger a same-day alert. Verify status on TSDR before acting.

CLASS 42servicesUpdated July 17, 2026

Trademark Class 42: Technology & Software Services — conflicts and related classes

Scientific and technological services and research, and the design and development of computer hardware and software — including software-as-a-service (SaaS) and platform services.

Informational only, not legal advice. Classification and likelihood-of-confusion outcomes depend on the specific goods, services, and marks. Verify on the USPTO ID Manual and TSDR before acting.

What does Class 42 cover?

Software-as-a-service (SaaS)
Software design and development
Platform-as-a-service (PaaS)
Hosting and cloud services
Scientific and technology research

Why do trademarks conflict in Class 42?

Class 42 is where most modern software companies live because SaaS is a service, not a downloadable good. It sits right beside Class 9, so a name cleared only for hosted services can still be blocked by a confusingly similar downloadable-software mark — and the reverse. The two classes are treated as closely related for likelihood-of-confusion.

Related classes to clear

Likelihood of confusion is assessed across related goods and services. Clear these alongside Class 42:

CLASS 9Downloadable software and apps are the closely related Class 9.
CLASS 35Business and data services around the software can fall in Class 35.
CLASS 38Transmission and communication features may implicate Class 38.

Filing note

SaaS belongs in Class 42, but if any part of the product is downloadable you likely also need Class 9. Filing Class 42 alone is the most common software-trademark gap — and the pair is where confusable filings most often appear.

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Class 42 FAQ

What does Trademark Class 42 cover?: Scientific and technological services and research, and the design and development of computer hardware and software — including software-as-a-service (SaaS) and platform services.
Why do trademarks conflict in Class 42?: Class 42 is where most modern software companies live because SaaS is a service, not a downloadable good. It sits right beside Class 9, so a name cleared only for hosted services can still be blocked by a confusingly similar downloadable-software mark — and the reverse. The two classes are treated as closely related for likelihood-of-confusion.
Which related classes should I clear alongside Class 42?: Class 9 — Downloadable software and apps are the closely related Class 9. Class 35 — Business and data services around the software can fall in Class 35. Class 38 — Transmission and communication features may implicate Class 38. Likelihood of confusion is assessed across related goods and services, not just the exact class.
How do I monitor new Class 42 filings?: The USPTO does not watch for confusable filings on your behalf. You can read the weekly Trademark Official Gazette yourself, or set a watch term so new Class 42 filings that match your mark trigger a same-day alert. Verify status on TSDR before acting.