San Diego Public Library Patent and Trademark Resource Center

Trademarks

What is a Trademark or Servicemark?

What Is a Trademark or Servicemark?

A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs, that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others.

A service mark is the same as a trademark, except that it identifies and distinguishes the source of a service rather than a product. Throughout this guide, the terms “trademark” and “mark” refer to both trademarks and service marks.

Visit the USPTO’s Trademark Basics page to learn more.

How to Get Started

The downloadable documents below will help get you learn more about trademarks and the trademark search process.

  1. 7 Step US Trademark Search Quick Start

  2. Basic Facts About Trademarks

  3. TESS Quick Reference Guide

Videos about Trademarks

Watch the videos below to learn the basics about trademarks. More videos are available on the USPTO’s Trademark Information Network (TMIN).

  1. Introduction to the USPTO and Trademark Basics

  2. Before You File

  3. Searching

  4. Applicant Information

  5. Drawing Issues

Trademark Search Tools

  1. Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) – Search for registered trademarks and service marks in the United States.

  2. Design Search Code Manual – Find the codes needed to search for specific kinds of images in TESS.

  3. Trademark Status & Document Retrieval (TSDR) – Use this database to obtain information about pending and registered trademarks.

  4. Official Gazette for Trademarks – The Official Gazette for Trademarks is issued each week. In addition to providing information about new marks, the Gazette lists cancelled and renewed registrations.

Useful Websites

  1. USPTO Trademarks – Start here for information about United States trademark searching and registration.

  2. California Trademarks – The State of California maintains its own trademark and service mark registry.

  3. International Trademark Association – Learn about trademark protection around the world.

  4. OHIM – Office for the Harmonization of the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs): The European Union agency responsible for registering trademarks and designs that are valid in all 27 countries of the EU.

  5. Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks – Learn about how to protect your mark in foreign countries.

Trademark Symbols

A trademark can be claimed with the letters TM written in superscript: TM

A service mark can be claimed with the letters SM written in superscript: SM

A trademark or service mark that has been registered with the USPTO is signified by the letter R with a circle around it: ®

Skip to content