Overview of Trademark Searches
Before you spend too much time, money, and energy developing and trying to protect your small business brand, you should have a thorough trademark search conducted. A trademark search is an involved process, usually conducted by a professional searcher, that scours trademark registries and identifies any marks that might cause issues with your brand. A search can involve current registrations with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as well as pending registration applications. While there is no official requirement by the USPTO to have a trademark search conducted before you apply for trademark registration, it is highly advisable to do so. Failing to perform a proper search can leave you open to legal challenges of your mark, as well as accusations of infringement by other parties with registered…