In today's competitive world, one of the most important things a business can do is ensure that its name, logo, or slogan is legally protected and stands out from those used by its competitors. Trademark search is a process of finding similar or identical symbols that are used by other businesses in order to ensure that your company is not infringing upon someone else’s rights.

Trademark search is conducted to ensure that your business is not infringing upon someone else’s rights and trademarks. The search is conducted on databases that are managed and maintained by different authorities, such as the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It is important that businesses find out if there are already registered trademarks for the mark they intend to use or if another company is already using similar or identical trademarks.

When conducting a trademark search, businesses must remember to search for trademarks that match their own in both category and class. A trademark search can also be used to check for any applications that are currently pending where there has been no resolution yet on the ownership of the trademark.

There are two types of trademark search – a “knockout” search and a “full” search. The knockout search is a simple and more economical version of the full search. It checks existing trademarks to identify marks that are identical or similar to the intended trademark. A full search is more extensive and includes more extensive checks to identify trademarks that may be similar or even related.

It is important that businesses undertake regular and up-to-date searches to confirm that their marks are still available and not being used by someone else, or remain pending and unresolved. This is because trademark rights are limited in time, subject to geographical boundaries and can be lost or cancelled for a variety of reasons.

Ultimately, to protect your business interests, trademark search is essential. Even if you find that your intended mark is available and distinctive, regular searches should be conducted to ensure that no other party is using your mark. A trademark search can also help businesses identify possible infringers and determine their legal strategy.