Before you file, know whether your name is actually clear. Our comprehensive search checks the USPTO database, state registries, and common law use — not just an exact-match lookup.
USPTO federal database — exact matches, phonetic equivalents, and similar marks in related classes, not just identical spellings.
State trademark registries — Minnesota and neighboring states, since a state-registered mark can still create a conflict even without federal registration.
Common law use — business names, domain registrations, and web presence for unregistered but actively used marks that carry legal rights.
Attorney risk assessment — a written opinion on how likely your name is to clear examination, not just a raw list of hits.
It checks the USPTO database, state registries, and common law use — well beyond a simple exact-match lookup.
A name can look clear on a basic USPTO search and still carry real risk if it's phonetically close to an existing mark or already in active use somewhere that never got registered.
It catches conflicts before you've spent money on a filing fee, branding, or marketing tied to a name you might not be able to keep.
It also tells you upfront whether your name is likely to draw a likelihood-of-confusion refusal — the single most common reason applications get rejected.
A comprehensive attorney-reviewed search is a modest flat fee — far less than the cost of refiling after a rejection.
We bundle the search into our flat fee for a full application, so you're not paying separately to find out whether it's worth filing at all.
You can run a free search on the USPTO's TESS database, but it only shows exact and near-exact matches among registered marks.
It won't catch phonetic similarities, common law use, or applications still pending — which is exactly what trips up most self-filed applications.
A comprehensive attorney-reviewed search is usually done within a few business days.
A DIY USPTO check takes minutes but only covers a fraction of what a full clearance search reviews.
Twin Cities Trademarks PLLC runs trademark searches and applications for business owners across Minnesota and beyond. Trademark law is federal, so wherever you're located, we can search and file with the USPTO on your behalf.
381 Kellogg Blvd. East
St. Paul, MN
1660 121st Ave NW, Suite 1
Coon Rapids, MN 55448
Phone & online consultations nationwide.
A comprehensive search costs far less than finding out the hard way, after you've filed.