United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Website: www.uspto.gov
What It Does: Offers a searchable database called TESS (Trademark Electronic Search System) where you can search for existing registered trademarks in the U.S.
European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) Website: euipo.europa.eu
What It Does: Allows for searching of registered trademarks within the European Union.
Canadian Trademarks Database Website: www.ic.gc.ca
What It Does: Enables searching for trademarks registered in Canada.
WIPO Global Brand Database Website: www.wipo.int
What It Does: Provides a way to search international trademarks registered under the Madrid System.
Secretary of State’s Office (in the U.S.) Website: Varies by state
What It Does: Allows searching for business names registered at the state level.
Companies House (UK) Website: www.gov.uk
What It Does: Offers a WebCHeck service to see if a company name is already registered in the United Kingdom.
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) Website: www.asic.gov.au
What It Does: Contains a register of business names in Australia.
Google Search
What It Does: A basic Google search can help identify other businesses that might be using the same or similar names. It’s not foolproof, but it’s a good starting point.
Legal and Trademark Attorneys
What They Do: Consulting with a legal professional specializing in intellectual property law can ensure that the desired business name doesn’t infringe on existing trademarks.
Business Registration Platforms
Examples: LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer
What They Do: Many of these online legal service platforms offer business name search and trademark search services as part of their business formation packages.
Domain Name Checkers
Examples: GoDaddy, Namecheap
What They Do: Even if a name isn’t trademarked, if the domain is taken, it might lead to confusion. Check the availability of domain names that correspond to your business name.