Patents and Trademarks : Trademarks

A trademark (or "service mark") is a word, phrase, symbol or design which identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods or services of one party from those of another. There is no requirement that you register a trademark with your state or the USPTO to make a good or service publicly available; however, federal registration has the following benefits: 

• Constructive notice nationwide of the trademark owner's claim.
• Evidence of ownership of the trademark.
• Jurisdiction of federal courts may be invoked.
• Registration can be used as a basis for obtaining registration in foreign countries.
• Registration may be filed with U.S. Customs Service to prevent importation of infringing foreign goods.

​​​​​​​USPTO Trademarks FAQ

USPTO Trademark Search 

• Guidance and webinars on using Trademark Search
• Search more than 3 million records for pending, registered, abandoned, cancelled or expired federal trademarks
• Records include logos or designs
• Records link to TSDR (Trademark Status & Document Retrieval) database for status information
• Does not contain marks abandoned, cancelled or expired prior to 1983

Trademark ID Manual 

• Find classes associated with goods or services. Then use the class filter in Trademark Search (in Expert Search mode) to limit results to relevant goods and services. 

Trademark Design Search Manual

• Find design codes for visual design elements (e.g., a code for all trademarks that include "Dogs rendered only as outlines, shadows, or silhouettes"). Then use the design codes in Trademark Search to find all marks that that use these elements. 

WIPO Global Brand Database
Search trademarks, appellations of origin, and official emblems from multiple national and international sources by text or image.

WIPO Monitor
Monitor the status of international trademark applications made under WIPO’s Madrid System.

Federal Registration of Trademarks

• Basic Facts About Trademarks - watch the video
• US Patent and Trademark Office – Trademark process
• Conducting a trademark search. Step-by-step instructions for searching registered federal trademarks on the Trademark Office’s website.
• USPTO Fees
• Trademark filing information (TEAS)

State Registration of Trademarks

• Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
• Other States Trademark Information