How to See If a Name is Trademarked

Check the US Patent and Trademark Office Resources’s online database., Visit the USPTO's Public Search Facility., Search a nearby Patent and Trademark Depository Library., Check the status of any mark found in the Trademark Status and Document...

4 Steps 2 min read Medium

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Step 1: Check the US Patent and Trademark Office Resources’s online database.

    The Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) is free of charge.

    It is easy to navigate to TESS from the USPTO main page.

    Under the ‘Learn About the Process’ heading, click on ‘Search Trademark Database.’ On the next page, click on the TESS button to be taken to the search engine.If your search involves a design element, you'll need to consult the Design Search Code Manual for the correct code by which to search for that element.
  2. Step 2: Visit the USPTO's Public Search Facility.

    If you don't have Internet access, you can visit the USPTO's Public Search Facility for free between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

    It is located at Madison East, 1st Floor, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia.

    If you want to make the drive, there is a parking garage for you to leave your car., The USPTO maintains branch locations of its Public Search Facility with CD-ROM databases of registered trademarks and marks pending registration.

    They do not include design elements, however.

    Call 800-786-9199 to find out the closest location., The TSDR database will have information on whether the mark is currently registered or its registration has lapsed.

    You'll need the registration or serial number of the mark in question to search TARR.

    This is more useful if you already know of a name that is undergoing the application process.

    You will be able to track whether it is accepted or rejected.
  3. Step 3: Search a nearby Patent and Trademark Depository Library.

  4. Step 4: Check the status of any mark found in the Trademark Status and Document Retrieval database.

Detailed Guide

The Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) is free of charge.

It is easy to navigate to TESS from the USPTO main page.

Under the ‘Learn About the Process’ heading, click on ‘Search Trademark Database.’ On the next page, click on the TESS button to be taken to the search engine.If your search involves a design element, you'll need to consult the Design Search Code Manual for the correct code by which to search for that element.

If you don't have Internet access, you can visit the USPTO's Public Search Facility for free between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

It is located at Madison East, 1st Floor, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia.

If you want to make the drive, there is a parking garage for you to leave your car., The USPTO maintains branch locations of its Public Search Facility with CD-ROM databases of registered trademarks and marks pending registration.

They do not include design elements, however.

Call 800-786-9199 to find out the closest location., The TSDR database will have information on whether the mark is currently registered or its registration has lapsed.

You'll need the registration or serial number of the mark in question to search TARR.

This is more useful if you already know of a name that is undergoing the application process.

You will be able to track whether it is accepted or rejected.

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