How Do I Know if My Trademark is Available? What is a Trademark Clearance Search?

Most countries, including the United States, offer online databases of existing trademarks. They offer visual, keyword and exact word searches. While an exact search for a particular word that you want to use as a trademark may not indicate the existence of conflicting marks, it is possible that you might miss an existing registered mark that is not spelled the same way but sounds very similar to your registered mark.

That is where a trademark clearance search becomes useful. It consists of an in-depth analysis of whether a desired mark is available and registrable. It allows to spot registrability risks (or conflicts that a database search might not bring to light) and allows applicants to proactively address them via rebranding, buying and getting an assignment from an existing trademark or even seeking permission from them co co-exist.