Once you’re on TESS you can type in the word or words related to the mark you’re researching in the Basic search function.
In the Basic search function:
- This will give you an idea if there are registrations or applications with the same word or words.
- Try variations of what you’re searching for: (a) one word out of multiple words; (b) the beginning of the word; and/or (c) if word has two parts to the word, add a space in the middle of the word. The variations will show different results and give you an idea of interpreting the previous results.
For more advanced trademark searching use the Free Form function.
In the advanced search function (Free Form):
- The advanced search function allows for different searches in breaking down the components of the word you’re researching.
- You can view a strategy for breaking down the components of a words – generally – by viewing the help section of the TESS database instructions giving an advanced search strategy. This breakdown is the consonant and vowel sounds.
- If you are trying to understand how a search strategy in free form would look for your particular word you’re searching for, view a search sequence made by a Trademark Examiner for the same word you’re researching by: (1) find a previous registration or application with the word you’re looking for; (2) open the TSDR file for that registration/application; (3) in the Documents tab of TSDR, view all the files for the registration/application, and then view the file XSearch Search Summary; (4) then find the word or parts of the word within that search sequence to better understand how an examiner will search for the word. The XSearch Search Summary was a search made by a Trademark Examiner for that particular mark for that registration/application. To better understand the symbols in the search, view the TESS database instructions including the advanced search strategy section (labeled common search strategies). Also understand that the Trademark Examiner performed sequential searches and nested searches for performing the search. The XSearch Search Summary searches are abbreviated for previous searches with a number of the search query for the next search query.