Searching the USPTO TESS
January 19, 2023 — The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has a database called the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) that allows you to search for trademarks that have been registered or applied for in the USPTO.
To perform advanced searches on TESS, you can use Boolean operators and wildcards. Boolean operators include “AND,” “OR,” and “NOT.” Wildcards include “*” and “?”
Here are some examples of advanced searches you can perform on TESS:
Find trademarks that contain the word “Apple” and the word “Computer” in the mark: “Apple AND Computer”
Find trademarks that contain the word “Apple” or the word “Computer” in the mark: “Apple OR Computer”
Find trademarks that contain the word “Apple” but not the word “Computer” in the mark: “Apple NOT Computer”
Find trademarks that contain the word “Apple” followed by any other characters: “Apple*”
Find trademarks that contain the word “Apple” followed by a specific set of characters: “Apple??”
You can also use the advanced search feature to narrow your search by class, filing date, and more.
It’s also important to note that TESS is a database of USPTO filed trademarks and not a comprehensive database of all existing trademarks, so it’s always a good idea to consult with a lawyer before making any trademark-related decisions.
If you need help with a trademark search, contact one of the attorneys at Gleam Law and we can do a search for you.
