Trademark Search

What Is a Trademark Search?

A trademark search is a systematic investigation of existing trademarks to determine whether your proposed mark conflicts with marks already in use or registered. The search examines whether any existing mark is similar enough in sight, sound, meaning, or overall commercial impression — and used with related enough goods or services — to create a likelihood of confusion among consumers.

This is the same legal standard the USPTO examining attorney applies when reviewing your application. The difference is timing: a professional search identifies conflicts in 2 days. The USPTO process takes 8–12 months.

Why a Professional Search Matters

The USPTO's own search tool searches only the federal register. It does not search state trademark databases, and it does not identify common law marks established through use in commerce without registration. A professional search eliminates those gaps with phonetic, visual, and semantic matching algorithms reviewed by an attorney against the DuPont factors.

What Our Search Covers

Federal register. The complete USPTO database of live, pending, and dead trademark registrations and applications.

State registers. All 50 state trademark databases — marks enforceable within their state but invisible at the federal level.

Common law sources. Business entity filings, domain name records, and web presence data. Unregistered trademark rights established through use can be more powerful than a registration.

How We Differ From DIY Tools

Free tools provide a basic keyword lookup against the federal register. We search beyond the federal register, use advanced matching technology, and every result is reviewed by a licensed attorney who understands the legal standard. The result is a search you can rely on when making a business decision.