Trademarks are used to distinguish goods and services of companies. The classification of goods and services is defined by the International treaty known as "Nice Classification" or "International Classification of Goods and Services". Every five years the Nice Classification is revised.
Leahy-Smith America Invents Act
On September 16, 2011 US-President Barack Obama signed the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. Revisions to US patent law have been under discussion for a long time, and have now finally been enacted. Many changes will only come into effect in 2012/2013, for example the "first-to-invent" system that has been applied by the USA will be replaced by the "first-to-file" system that is more common throughout the world. Some changes are already implemented, for example increases in USPTO fees.
Under the "first-to-invent" system the right to the patent belongs to the inventor, independent of whether he or she filed a petition for grant to the USPTO. The "first-to-file" system will confer the rights to the invention to the first to file petition for grant, irrespective if whether or not they are the inventor. This should make it easier to settle disputes about who has the right to a certain innovation and lead to greater legal certainty.