{
  "id": 5143578,
  "title": "The free way to check if a startup name is trademarked (USPTO, 2026)",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/the-free-way-to-check-if-a-startup-name-is-trademarked-uspto-2026",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-02T18:05:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dev.to",
    "slug": "dev-to",
    "url": "https://dev.to/alexcommitter/the-free-way-to-check-if-a-startup-name-is-trademarked-uspto-2026-253f"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Checking if a startup name is trademarked is a crucial step before investing in a name. Trademark protection is granted for specific goods or services, not just for a word. The USPTO has replaced its Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS) with a new system called Trademark Search at tmsearch.uspto.gov, which is free and doesn't require an account. To search, enter the exact name, close variants like misspellings or phonetic equivalents, and then review the live results in the relevant classes. The class matters more than the name, as trademark protection is tied to particular goods or services. A knockout search, which involves a quick search, is a good first filter but doesn't guarantee clear results. Common-law rights and state registrations also need to be considered. Once a name survives a search, filing for a US trademark application can be done through the Trademark Center at tmcenter.uspto.gov, with a base application fee of $350 per class. Remember, a search does not guarantee registration or legal advice, so consulting a lawyer for a clearance opinion is still recommended.",
  "summary": "I have named a lot of side projects, and for years I got the order wrong. Brainstorm a name, check the .com, fall in love, ship. The trademark check was the thing I did last, if at all. That is exactly backwards, because the domain being free tells you nothing about whether someone already owns the name. So here is the process I use now, written the way I wish someone had handed it to me. It is…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}