Trademark Searches

The main reason to do a search is to avoid infringing upon someone else’s trademark.  You should also do one before applying for registration of a trademark.  There are many types of searches, including those you can do yourself on the Internet for free.  First, you will have to structure the search query properly.  This can be a challenge when you have to look for sound-alikes too.  Once you do have the search results, you have to filter them for ‘confusing’ trademarks or tradenames.  ‘Confusion’ is a term of art in trademarks, and covers such things as field of business, channels of trade and the degree of resemblance in appearance,  sound or ideas suggested by two trademarks.