Trademark guides
Plain-English explainers on how trademark conflicts actually work. No legalese, no upsell. Each one ends where you can screen your own name by sound and meaning, free.
- Dead vs. Live TrademarkWhat does a 'dead' or 'live' trademark mean? A plain-English guide to USPTO status, why dead marks usually can't block you, and the catch to watch for.
- Do I Need a Lawyer to Trademark a Name?Do you need a lawyer to trademark a name? A plain-English look at what you can do yourself, what an attorney adds, and where the line usually falls.
- How to Check if a Name Is Trademarked (Free)How to check if a name is trademarked: searching the USPTO register, why exact-match isn't enough, and how to screen by sound and meaning.
- How to Trademark a NameHow to trademark a name: a brief overview of the USPTO filing steps, plus the free first step of screening the name for conflicts before you file.
- How to Know if a Business Name Is AvailableHow do you know if a business name is available? The three checks founders confuse (entity name, trademark, and domain) and what each one covers.
- Likelihood of Confusion in Trademarks, ExplainedWhat is 'likelihood of confusion' in trademark law? The multi-factor test the USPTO applies, in plain English, and which factors you can screen yourself.
- Can Two Businesses Have the Same Name?Can two businesses share a name in different industries? A guide to trademark classes, related goods, and when a shared name can legally coexist.
- Trademark vs. Registered Business NameTrademark vs. registered business name: how a trademark, an LLC/entity name, and a DBA differ, and why registering one isn't the other.
- What Makes Two Trademarks Confusingly Similar?What makes two trademarks confusingly similar? The factors (sound, appearance, meaning, related goods) in plain English, plus how to screen for them.
Free tools
- Phonetic Trademark Search
- Check a Name Against Registered Trademarks
- Confusingly Similar Trademark Checker (Free)
- Free Trademark Conflict Checker
- Free Trademark Name Similarity Checker
- Is My Brand Name Too Similar to a Trademark?
- Trademark Likelihood of Confusion Checker
- Sound-Alike Trademark Checker
- Trademark Similarity Score
Check by industry
- Amazon Private Label Brand Name Trademark Check
- Brewery Name Trademark Check (Free)
- Candle & Soap Business Name Trademark Check
- Clothing Brand Name Trademark Check (Free)
- Coffee Shop Name Trademark Check (Free)
- Etsy Shop Name Trademark Check (Free)
- Jewelry Brand Name Trademark Check (Free)
- Trademark Check for a Mobile App Name (Free)
- Podcast Name Trademark Check (Free & Instant)
- Restaurant Name Trademark Search (Free)
- Trademark Search for a SaaS Startup Name (Free)
- Skincare Brand Name Trademark Check (Free)