Wednesday, February 12, 2014
By Aditi Mukherji, JDHow do you look up a patent or trademark? It's a question many creative minds may be wondering about.
When contemplating a patent or trademark, it's important to conduct a preliminary patent and trademark search to make sure there isn't one that's similar -- or even identical -- to your idea.
Regardless of the reason for your search, there are a variety of ways to search for a patent or trademark.
Searching for Patents
Here are three ways to perform an online patent search:
USPTO database. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office allows full-text and image database searches for patents.
Google patent search. If you're more comfortable using a search engine other than the USPTO database, Google also has a free patent search engine tool that synthesizes the USPTO's information. Pro: It's more user-friendly than the USPTO's site. Con: It's in beta, so there may be a few hiccups here and there.
Fee-based services. There are also a number of fee-based services that include extensive search functions. One example: Thomson Innovation (which, like FindLaw.com, is owned by Thomson Reuters).
Searching for Trademarks
Similarly, here are three ways to go about performing an online trademark search:
USPTO database. Like patents, you can do your own search of trademarks registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Search engines. For initial screening -- and to find unregistered trademarks, which can affect your ability to register a trademark -- you can try using a regular search engine. Web searches can help you see how and where the name you want is being used.
Fee-based services. You may choose to use a fee-based trademark search engine, such as the database available through Thomson CompuMark (which, like FindLaw.com, is owned by Thomson Reuters). It boasts a range of features, including initial trademark screening, deeper screening, flexible search options, search templates, and flexible reporting and exporting for easy sharing with clients and colleagues.
Source: Findlaw.com
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