USPTO Trademark Search Guide
Learn how to use the USPTO’s current Trademark Search system for exact wording, expanded variants, owner and field searches, and record verification.
General educational information only. Not legal advice.
Check your brand before you file
Screen a U.S. brand name for similar federal marks and practical risk signals.
Open Trademark Risk CheckEducational information and AI-assisted risk signals only. Not legal advice.
The USPTO now uses its cloud-based Trademark Search system for public federal searching. Older guides that direct users to TESS are outdated.
The system covers federal applications and registrations. It does not, by itself, cover every state record or unregistered common-law use.
Before opening the database
Prepare:
- the exact proposed wording;
- spelling, spacing, and phonetic variations;
- the goods and services;
- related product or service terms;
- possible translations; and
- owner names you may need to investigate.
Searching is more effective when the query plan exists before the results begin to influence it.
Start with an exact-word search
The USPTO’s federal-search guidance describes searching exact wording in the combined mark field. For multiword marks, quotation marks can help search the phrase.
An exact search can reveal:
- identical live records;
- pending applications;
- owner patterns;
- relevant goods and services; and
- dead records that merit follow-up.
This is a knock-out step, not the end of the search.
Expand the wording
Search individual distinctive terms and likely variations. Consider:
- words together and apart;
- plural and singular forms;
- common vowel or consonant substitutions;
- phonetic equivalents;
- reordered terms;
- abbreviations;
- translations; and
- dominant wording without highly descriptive elements.
Broad searches may return noise. Use fields and goods-and-services terms to make the result set reviewable without excluding plausible conflicts too early.
Useful search fields
The search system supports field tags and structured searching. The USPTO’s current guide should be treated as the source for syntax because features can change.
Common search goals include:
- combined mark wording;
- owner name;
- serial or registration number;
- goods and services;
- international class; and
- design search codes for visual elements.
Log in with a USPTO.gov account when appropriate; the USPTO notes that login can improve the experience during heavy traffic and support additional features.
Read the result, not just the title
For each potentially relevant record, review:
| Field | Review question |
|---|---|
| Status | Is the application or registration live, pending, abandoned, or cancelled? |
| Mark | What wording and design are actually claimed? |
| Goods/services | How close are they to the proposed offering? |
| Owner | Are there related records under the same owner? |
| Dates | What timing information is available? |
| Basis | What filing basis and use information appear? |
Then open the TSDR file for more detail and source documents.
Design searches
If a logo contains a meaningful design, use the USPTO Design Search Code Manual and applicable search fields. Design searching is not the same as uploading an image and receiving a legal answer.
Word elements in a logo may still be important. Consider separate word and design searches rather than assuming one query covers both.
Status cautions
Live does not mean the record necessarily blocks your mark. Dead does not mean the name is free to use.
A dead record may correspond to a business that continues using the mark. A live record may cover unrelated goods or create a different commercial impression. Status is one input.
Save a search record
Capture the date, query, filters, and relevant serial or registration numbers. Federal data changes as applications proceed, ownership changes, and registrations are maintained or cancelled.
For important decisions, revisit key records immediately before filing or launch.
Frequently asked questions
What replaced TESS?
The USPTO transitioned to its cloud-based Trademark Search system. Current search guidance and the search interface are available from the USPTO trademark-search pages.
Do I need a USPTO account to search?
Public searching is available, while the USPTO recommends logging in for a better experience and added features.
Does the database include unregistered trademarks?
No. Federal search results do not capture every common-law use, state registration, or business name.
Can I search by trademark class?
Yes, but class filtering should not replace reviewing related goods and services across possible class boundaries.
Is a zero-result search proof of availability?
No. Query design, variations, unregistered use, record timing, and legal analysis still matter.
Primary sources
Legal information disclaimer
Seneka Resources and Seneka Labs provide general educational information and AI-assisted trademark risk signals, not legal advice. The information and results do not constitute a legal opinion, trademark clearance determination, or guarantee of registration or non-infringement. Trademark matters are fact-specific. Consider consulting a qualified trademark attorney before filing, adopting, or making a significant investment in a mark.