USPTO Trademark Search

Searching the USPTO Trademark Database

The United States Patent and Trademark Office maintains the official database of federally registered and pending trademarks — searchable through the USPTO's Trademark Search system (which replaced the legacy TESS system). Each record includes the mark, owner, goods description, filing and registration dates, status, and prosecution history.

Searching this database effectively requires understanding how the system indexes marks and how to construct queries that capture phonetic variations, visual similarities, and related goods across different classes.

Limitations of the Free USPTO Search

The free search tool covers only the federal register — no state trademarks, no common law marks. The quality of results depends entirely on the queries you construct. A single missed phonetic variation or failure to search coordinated classes can mean the difference between catching a conflict before you file and receiving a 2(d) refusal 10 months later.

What We Add

Our search starts with the USPTO federal database using commercial-grade phonetic, visual, and semantic matching. We then extend to all 50 state registers and common law sources. An attorney reviews every identified conflict using the DuPont factors and assigns risk levels.

Free Search vs. Professional Search

Use the free USPTO search for a quick knockout check. But if the quick check comes back clear, that does not mean the mark is available — it means the federal register did not contain an exact match. A professional search determines actual availability across all three layers.