A thorough search on a trademark search database helps to avoid potential litigations. It is the most crucial step for the Trademark registration and helps to avoid the infringement of any similar mark.
Moreover, you must perform a trademark search before investing in a trademark. It is very important to make sure that you are legally using your trademark. You must seek help from a professional trademark attorney if you are not familiar with the trademark search.
The most commonly used trademark search database is TESS (Trademark Electronic Search System). It is provided by the USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office).
In this segment, we will discuss TESS and its features that make it the most trustable trademark search database.
Also read: Why Trademark search Service Is So Important?
Trademark Search Category
You must define the class for the trademark for an effective search. Select the appropriate class/category for registration of your Trademark. This allows you to sell your product/service under a certain class of the economy. There are basically 45 categories in the Trademark Registry. Moreover, you may search at the Trademark office of your country after selecting the class/category for your Trademark. Also, you may use an online tool. However, every country does not provide an online trademark search database.
Few of the search categories are:
- Chemicals
- Paints and Coatings
- Cleaning and Bleaching Products, Cosmetics
- Pharmaceutical and Dietetic Products
- Fuels and Industrial Oils
TESS – A Trademark Search Database:
TESS (Trademark Electronic Search System) is a Trademark Search Database or Engine used for trademark searches. You must have an attorney to make your search more effective. The trademark application is a complicated process and if you miss even a single step, it may lead to a delay in the approval.
Moreover, TESS is an electronic database of registered, closed and approved trademark applications. It provides a free search over the data of the past 30 years. The Trademark professionals perform a search on the Trademark Search database of TESS to check for any possible infringement.
The USPTO is responsible for publishing and maintenance of TESS. This includes updating up to 3 million applications per week.
Also read: How to Do a Trademark Image search in the USPTO Website
TESS: How it Works?
The basic functions like AND/OR help to find more than one term. Also, advanced functions like NOT, SAME, XOR or WITH help you to get more specific results. To search for a specific field, use Result Must Contain.
The advanced search provides more information to the user such as:
- Owner’s name
- Filing date
- Basic index
- Present status
A Full record contains the following points:
- Link of the documents inside ‘Trademark Document status retrieval’
- Status and files of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
- Link to check Trademark status on the TARR
- ASSIGN status of the application
- Trademark image
TESS: Search Types
TESS includes 19 term fields and 8 search operations. Basically, there two types of Trademark search, either word or design. It depends upon the requirement. The two types of Trademark search are:
- Basic Word Mark Search:
It allows us to search for the accepted or pending applications. You may add singular/ plural terms or search for a dead/alive registration process. The results are obtained from TARR (Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval) server.
- Structured Word or Design Mark Search:
It searches for both Trademarks and design marks. However, you must open the Design Search Code Manual to select the right code before you search for design marks. Also, you may decide the number of results you want to see on a single page.
The site contains an option to Browse Dictionary function also. Here, you may find the Trademark Official Gazette. It is a weekly journal that contains recently published, cancelled or updated applications.
Also Read: Trademark searches: An Overview
TESS: Steps for the Trademark Search
- Visit the USPTO website.
- Click on the Trademarks > Application process > Searching Trademarks.
- The next screen is of the USPTO Trademark database. You can click on the TESS to proceed for the Trademark search.
- Here you get 3 basic search options and 2 additional search options.
Basic Search Options:
- Word Mark Search (New User)
Use this option to search for word-marks. The only options you need to fill are a Search term, Field and Result must contain. Moreover, you may select the Search type between live/Dead and Singular/plural.
- Word/Design Mark Search (Structured)
Use this option to search word/design marks simultaneously or selectively. Also, you may use operators like AND, NOR, XOR, NOT, SAME.
NOTE: Use the Design Search Code Manual to find the proper Design Codes.
- Word/Design Mark Search (Free Form)
It allows you to construct word/design searches using Boolean logic and various search fields. You can also make choices between singular or plural search.
NOTE: Use the Design Search Code Manual to find the related Design Codes.
Additional Search Options:
- Browse Dictionary (Browse Dictionary)
It allows you to surf all the fields of the database, whether it is collective or among particular fields. The outcomes are obtained in a dictionary-style (alphabetic) format.
- Search OG Publication Date or Registration Date (Search OG)
You may search the Official Gazette for the marks that are published or registered on a certain date. However, you need to select the required options among Field, Operator, OG date, Plural, etc.
How TMReady Works?
TMReady provides you with the most flexible coverage over the Trademark related services. Our team of experts performs a manual search over a global database for the most pertinent outcomes. Also, we believe in 100% customer satisfaction within a budget-friendly price. You just need to order online and provide the mark details. You get a quick turnaround time with free iterations. Moreover, you can check the status of your order at any stage. We keep transparency and also provide free advises for long term benefits. For seeking more advantages from our services, please visit TMReady.