What is a trademark?
According to the British Library's guide, What is a trademark?, they "distinguish the good or services of one trader from another and can take many forms; for example words, slogans, logos, shapes, colours and sounds."
Where do I search for trademarks?
There are a number of free databases on the web that can be used to find trademark information.
Trademarks filed outside of the United States (information sourced from Patents and Trademarks guide by Tufts University Libraries).
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) enables you to search for a National UK trademark, an EU trademark, an International Registration designating the EU and an International Registration designating the UK, by number, owner, or keyword, phrase or image. You can also check the most recent trademark applications.
ROMARIN (International Trademark Information Database) For searching international filings.
European Union Intellectual Property Office. Official trademarks and designs office of the European Union.
Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks. Administered by WIPO, system designed to facilitate a unified filing for trademark protection in multiple countries.
African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO).
WIPO Trademarks Gateway Portal for sources on global trademarks and designs. Includes links to the ROMARIN International Trademark Information Database and the Global Brand Database.
WIPO Global Brands Database. Searchable database on international trademarks, emblems and appellations of origin, filterable by holder, country, and other data fields.
Trademarks filed in the United States (information sourced from Patents and Trademarks guide by Tufts University Libraries).
USTPO Trademark Status and Document Retrieval (TSDR). As of September, 2012 incorporates Trademark Application and Registration Retrieval (TARR) and Trademark Document Retrieval (TDR) for unified searching on the status and background information on trademark filings and renewals. Enables both basic and advanced (structured) searching on registered trademarks and applications.
British Library Business & IP Centre
The British Library Business & IP Centre can help you protect your ideas.
Want to know about patents?
See the Chemistry Library website for Patents.