Monthly Trademark Filing Report | USPTO Data Through October 31, 2025

Executive Summary

October 2025 brought 52,736 new trademark applications to the USPTO — a modest 0.4% decline from the same month a year ago (52,923 in October 2024) and a more pronounced 5.8% drop from September 2025's 55,958 filings. On the surface, those headline numbers suggest a cooling market. But a deeper look at the class-level data tells a more nuanced story: filings in pharmaceuticals, business services, and software are trending upward month-over-month, tech giants are filing aggressively on new product names, and the prosecution pipeline remains heavily loaded with pending applications that will define registration statistics well into 2026. For practitioners, October 2025 is best characterized not as a slowdown, but as a recalibration — a pullback from September's elevated pace that still keeps annual volume on track with 2024 baselines.

1. Overall Filing Volume: A Modest Retreat from a Strong September

October's 52,736 total filings landed within the normal operating range for 2025, which has oscillated between roughly 48,400 (May) and 61,400 (January) across the year. The month-over-month drop of approximately 3,200 applications from September is notable but not alarming — September 2025 was itself an outlier, representing one of the stronger months of the year.

Month	Total Filings	MoM Change
Oct 2024	52,923	—
Jan 2025	61,446	—
Feb 2025	38,331	–37.6%
Mar 2025	52,957	+38.1%
Apr 2025	52,767	–0.4%
May 2025	48,416	–8.2%
Jun 2025	50,426	+4.2%
Jul 2025	54,856	+8.8%
Aug 2025	53,710	–2.1%
Sep 2025	55,958	+4.2%
Oct 2025	52,736	–5.8%

The year-over-year comparison is essentially flat: October 2025 came in just 187 filings below October 2024 — a rounding error at this scale. That parity, set against the backdrop of a market that absorbed February's unusually low trough (38,331 filings, likely driven by the short calendar month and a post-January lull), suggests underlying demand for trademark protection remains structurally stable.

One data point worth watching: the pending-to-total ratio for October 2025 is striking. Of the 52,736 applications filed this month, 52,210 — or 99.0% — remain in pending status. This is expected for freshly filed applications, but the figure underscores just how early these applications are in prosecution. By contrast, filings from July 2025 have already seen 7,550 registrations (13.8% of that month's total), and January 2025 applications have produced 28,372 registrations (46.2%). October's cohort will be one to watch through mid-to-late 2026.

2. NICE Class Activity: Education and Tech Lead, Apparel Holds Steady

The top 15 NICE classes for October 2025 reveal a filing landscape dominated by services rather than goods — a pattern consistent with the broader digital economy's imprint on trademark practice.

Rank	NICE Class	Description	Oct 2025 Filings
1	041	Education & Entertainment Services	7,086
2	009	Software, Electronics & Tech Hardware	6,966
3	035	Advertising & Business Services	6,455
4	042	Scientific & Tech Services (SaaS, IT)	5,687
5	025	Clothing & Apparel	5,555
6	005	Pharmaceuticals & Supplements	3,058
7	003	Cosmetics & Personal Care	2,730
8	028	Games, Toys & Sporting Goods	2,427
9	036	Insurance & Financial Services	2,317
10	016	Paper Goods & Printed Matter	2,287
11	021	Housewares & Glass	2,113
12	044	Medical & Veterinary Services	1,887
13	030	Food Staples (Coffee, Bakery, etc.)	1,659
14	043	Restaurant & Hospitality Services	1,522
15	020	Furniture & Décor	1,478

Class 041 (Education and Entertainment) claimed the top spot with 7,086 filings, edging out the perennial frontrunner Class 009 (Software and Electronics) at 6,966. The proximity of these two classes reflects an economy in which streaming services, online learning platforms, gaming, and AI-powered educational tools all land simultaneously in 041 and 009 — often filed together in multi-class applications. Practitioners should expect this near-tie to persist as edtech, gaming, and content platform brands continue aggressive IP buildouts.

Class 035 (Advertising and Business Services) at 6,455 filings remains the third pillar of modern trademark activity, capturing the enormous ecosystem of SaaS businesses that provide marketing tools, e-commerce platforms, and retail services.

Class 025 (Clothing and Apparel) held fifth place at 5,555 — a strong showing that, when read alongside Class 028's 2,427 filings (Games and Sporting Goods), signals continued robust activity in the fashion and athletic lifestyle sector. Nike's filing of both NIKE MAVN and MAVN in October (discussed below) is emblematic of this trend.

3. Registration Rates: The Pipeline Tightens for Recent Cohorts

Registration rate data for cohorts filed between November 2023 and October 2024 reveals a clear and important trend: rates are declining as filing volume grows, and more recently filed cohorts are maturing more slowly through prosecution.

Cohort Month	Total Filed	Registered	Registration Rate
Nov 2023	45,387	23,318	51.4%
Dec 2023	44,912	23,574	52.5%
Jan 2024	47,974	24,508	51.1%
Feb 2024	43,753	20,023	45.8%
Mar 2024	48,950	23,187	47.4%
Apr 2024	51,569	22,394	43.4%
May 2024	51,528	22,047	42.8%
Jun 2024	46,699	15,339	32.8%
Jul 2024	50,668	14,348	28.3%
Aug 2024	50,377	12,112	24.0%
Sep 2024	51,260	19,540	38.1%
Oct 2024	52,923	22,928	43.3%

Several observations stand out:

The late-2023 cohorts achieved 51–52% registration rates, reflecting the natural maturation of a 12–24 month prosecution timeline. These are the applications that sailed through examination, cleared opposition periods, and received statements of use — all before the current backlog intensified.

The mid-2024 cohorts (June through August 2024) show dramatically lower rates — 32.8%, 28.3%, and 24.0% respectively. This is not necessarily a signal of worse outcomes; it is almost certainly a function of timing. These cohorts are still relatively early in prosecution at the time of this report. The September 2024 cohort's partial recovery to 38.1% supports this interpretation — applications in that batch are simply at different stages.

The October 2024 cohort's 43.3% rate — the direct year-over-year peer of October 2025's incoming class — is encouraging. It suggests that roughly four in ten applications filed in October of any given year will achieve registration within twelve months, with more trickling through in the months that follow.

For practitioners advising clients on timelines: the data supports managing expectations around 18–24 months to registration for straightforward marks in competitive classes, with earlier outcomes possible for marks in less-contested categories.

4. Notable Filings: Tech's Aggressive October, Nike's Footwear Signals, and Disney's Running Brand

October's roster of notable filings reads like a preview of forthcoming product launches, platform expansions, and brand consolidations across major industries.

Google LLC — OPAL, STITCH, PORTRAITS, MAGIC CUE (Multiple Filings)

Google was arguably the most active major brand in October, with at least four named filings and at least one confidential application surfacing in the dataset. OPAL (Serial No. 99470646) and STITCH (99470642) were both filed on October 30, while PORTRAITS (99464706) and MAGIC CUE (99461676) followed earlier in the month. The names suggest a continued push into AI-assisted media, photography, and content creation tools — consistent with Google's sustained investment in Gemini-powered features across its product suite. STITCH, in particular, could signal a video or design tool given the creative connotations of the mark. MAGIC CUE hints at AI-driven presentation or audio features. All remain pending.

Nike, Inc. — NIKE MAVN and MAVN

Nike's dual filing of NIKE MAVN (99471461) and the standalone MAVN (99471637) on October 30 is a classic brand protection strategy — securing both the house-mark-plus-product-name combination and the product name alone. The MAVN designation appears poised for a footwear or performance athletic product line, likely targeting the running or training segment based on the phonetic energy of the mark. Nike's practice of filing parent and subsidiary marks simultaneously is well established, and practitioners can anticipate related design mark filings in the weeks ahead.

Samsung Electronics — SAMSUNG WALLET

Filed October 28, SAMSUNG WALLET (Serial No. 99466508) in Class 036 (Financial Services) signals Samsung's continued push into the digital payments and financial services space. The filing aligns with the company's broader ecosystem strategy — positioning Samsung-branded financial tools alongside its hardware lineup. This is a brand extension worth monitoring: it suggests Samsung is preparing to formalize and expand its payment platform under a distinct sub-brand rather than allowing it to persist as a generic feature name.

Microsoft Corporation — MINECRAFT

MINECRAFT (Serial No. 99464936), filed October 27, represents what appears to be a maintenance or expansion filing for one of the most commercially significant video game brands in history. A decade after Microsoft's $2.5 billion acquisition of Mojang, continued investment in protecting the MINECRAFT mark — filed across relevant classes — reflects the ongoing importance of the franchise to Microsoft's gaming and consumer business.

Amazon Technologies / Amazon - Brazil 8 LLC — Multiple Brand Extensions

Amazon filed through at least two entities in October. Amazon Technologies, Inc. filed a confidential application on October 31. Meanwhile, the Amazon - Brazil 8 LLC entity filed LAELLIUM PRO, MEMYTS PLUS, PRESGERA PRO, and NERVE FREEDOM PRO — a cluster of health and wellness-adjacent product names consistent with Amazon's private label expansion strategy in supplements and wellness goods. The "PRO" suffix appearing across multiple marks suggests a product tier strategy analogous to Amazon Basics, but in a premium positioning.

Disney Enterprises, Inc. — RUNDISNEY

Filed October 24, RUNDISNEY (Serial No. 99461283) formalizes branding around Disney's popular running event series — including the Disneyland Half Marathon, Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, and other themed races. The filing may reflect an expansion of licensed merchandise, digital platforms, or event-related services tied to the program. For a brand historically cautious about protecting its IP in the experiential space, this filing underscores the commercial seriousness of the runDisney franchise.

5. Industry Growth Signals: Firearms, Manufacturing Services, and Pharma Accelerate

While total filing volume dipped from September, the class-level growth data reveals pockets of accelerating activity that deserve close attention from practitioners.

NICE Class	Description	Sep 2025	Oct 2025	Growth
013	Firearms & Ammunition	140	166	+18.6%
040	Treatment of Materials / Manufacturing	590	645	+9.3%
004	Lubricants & Fuels	308	332	+7.8%
005	Pharmaceuticals & Supplements	2,867	3,058	+6.7%
019	Building Materials (Non-Metallic)	349	367	+5.2%
035	Advertising & Business Services	6,140	6,455	+5.1%
037	Construction & Repair Services	1,361	1,425	+4.7%
033	Alcoholic Beverages (ex. Beer)	658	687	+4.4%
042	Scientific & Tech Services	5,452	5,687	+4.3%
036	Insurance & Financial Services	2,244	2,317	+3.3%

Class 013 (Firearms and Ammunition): +18.6%

The standout growth figure belongs to Class 013, which jumped from 140 to 166 filings — an 18.6% month-over-month increase. In absolute terms this remains a small-volume class, but the growth rate is the largest on the board and warrants attention. This uptick may reflect seasonal patterns in the firearms market (fall is peak hunting and gifting season) or a response to anticipated regulatory changes prompting brands to secure IP protections proactively. Practitioners with clients in the defense and sporting goods space should consider whether Class 013 coverage is current.

Class 005 (Pharmaceuticals): +6.7%

Class 005's growth to 3,058 filings — already the sixth-largest class by volume — points to continued intensity in the pharmaceutical, supplement, and wellness product space. Amazon's cluster of wellness-branded filings are a visible data point, but the broader trend reflects an industry where brand differentiation at the retail level is commercially critical. With GLP-1 drugs, functional beverages, and nootropic supplements all competing for shelf and digital space, pharmaceutical trademark activity is unlikely to slow.

Classes 035 and 042 (Business Services and Tech Services): Steady Climbers

The two largest services-class growth entries — Class 035 (+5.1%) and Class 042 (+4.3%) — confirm that SaaS, AI platform, and B2B service branding activity is accelerating even as overall filing volume softened. This is consistent with the cadence of enterprise software product launches and the ongoing proliferation of AI-branded services. Google's four named October filings likely landed in Class 042, and the Samsung Wallet filing in Class 036 (also up +3.3%) reinforces the tech-finance convergence theme.

Class 040 (Treatment of Materials): +9.3%

This lesser-discussed class — covering manufacturing services, custom fabrication, and materials treatment — posted the second-highest growth rate at 9.3%. The uptick may reflect increased nearshoring and domestic manufacturing activity, with brands seeking to protect marks tied to U.S.-based production capabilities. Practitioners in the industrial and manufacturing sector should note this as a potential pipeline indicator.

Practitioner Takeaways

1. October's volume dip is noise, not signal. The 0.4% year-over-year decline and the 5.8% sequential drop from September both fall within the normal variance of monthly filing data. Annual 2025 volume, when October's results are placed in context, remains broadly consistent with 2024 levels.

2. The prosecution pipeline is extremely front-loaded. With 99% of October 2025 filings still pending, the next 12–18 months will be critical. Clients filing now should receive early examination action letters around spring 2026 based on current USPTO pendency targets.

3. Registration rates compress in high-volume cohorts. The data confirms that cohorts with 50,000+ filings tend to show lower registration rates at the 12-month mark than smaller cohorts — not because outcomes are worse, but because more applications are still in process. Counsel accordingly.

4. Class 013 and Class 005 deserve a second look. Clients in firearms, ammunition, health supplements, and pharmaceuticals are filing at accelerating rates. Clearance searches in these classes may face more crowded registries in 2026.

5. Tech giants are building new brand portfolios in real time. Google's four October filings, Nike's dual MAVN applications, Samsung's Wallet push, and Amazon's wellness brand cluster all signal that major brands are actively expanding their trademark estates — driving competition in already-congested classes like 009, 041, and 042.

Data sourced from USPTO TSDR and public trademark records. All filing statistics represent applications as recorded through October 31, 2025. Registration rates reflect cohort data as of report date and will change as applications continue through prosecution. This report is prepared for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.

Trademark Filings in October 2025: Volume Dips Year-Over-Year as Tech Giants and Pharma Drive Class-Level Growth