A trademark search provides information on any registered or unregistered trademark or service mark. Such information may show any similarities that exist between a trademark in the system and the one under review by the searcher. The search indicates whether the trademark is in use in the country or any part of the world. Furthermore, the search determines whether the proposed trademark would pose any confusion with an existing one if it were to be used on goods and services.
Importance of a Trademark Search
Trademark searches will save you time and money. As an example, suppose there’s a trademark already in use by company A. You’ve come up with its equivalent. You’re unaware of the striking similarities that your trademark bears to the one from Company A. Your products have hit the market and are doing quite well. However, Company A discovers that you’re infringing on their trademark and files a trademark lawsuit against you. A simple search may have prevented this from happening, since you’d be aware of the similarities that existed in your design. Since you failed to carry out a search you must now hire a lawyer and pay legal fees which you had not anticipated.