We Screen Trademarks
We make brand name development companies more successful by thorough preliminary trademark screening which saves time, money and gets the strongest names to market.
We make brand name development companies more successful by thorough preliminary trademark screening which saves time, money and gets the strongest names to market.
Over 18 years of trademark research consulting with Lexicon Branding made it clear that quick and thorough preliminary trademark screening not only saves time and money but most importantly it gets the best names to market. Managing a team responsible for screening hundreds of brand name candidates a week for over 1,500 brand name development projects, including the BLACKBERRY communication device, DASANI water, PENTIUM processors, SWIFFER mops, and the SCION automobiles makes Tessera a valuable and experienced partner for all brand name developers.
Tessera provides elegant preliminary trademark screening research and analysis for companies that develop brand names. We catch potential trademark conflicts early to better manage your costs.
“As a verbal identity consultant, I've worked with Steve on a number of naming projects. He's extremely thorough, fast, reasonably priced, and deeply informed on all aspects of brand name screening. All jobs--whether large or small--have received the same level of attention. I recommend him without reservation.”
Tessera performs thorough multi-level trademark screening research using the following screening tools:
Tessera recommends all names undergo a full clearance search by trademark counsel after they survive the preliminary trademark screen. Preliminary trademark screening is insufficient for legal opinion.
“Running a naming firm, we have had to screen a lot of names, which can be a terrifying, frustrating and expensive process. Steve is the first trademark expert we've used who breaks everything down into plain English, provides clear direction for us and our clients, and gives us an affordable way to screen names before they go to the attorney. We've been impressed with his turnaround time, attention to detail, and the way the results are formatted. Steve really goes the extra mile for us and we consider him part of our team. I highly recommend him and Tessera Trademark Screening.”
What is preliminary trademark screening?
Preliminary trademark screening consists of an on-line search of US Federal, US State trademark registers, the Internet, and international marks in over 50 countries. It narrows a list of potential trademarks by “knocking out” names that are too similar to existing trademarks.
Why do I need to do preliminary trademark screening?
A business, organization or individual obtains trademark rights by being the first in a given market either to use a mark or to file for the mark (provided that the mark is successfully registered). Once the trademark owner obtains such rights, the owner is entitled to stop newcomers from using similar marks in ways that are likely to cause confusion. Thus, anyone who contemplates adopting a new mark faces the risk that someone else may have already obtained rights to a similar mark for similar goods or services. A preliminary trademark screen is a critical step in creating a new mark.
Can you describe the step-by-step screening process?
What databases do you use?
Tessera uses trademark databases available from Corsearch. These include the US Federal and US State trademark databases as well as 30 trademark databases outside the US. These databases include: Australia, Austria, Benelux, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, European Community, Finland, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
Trademark databases for many other countries are also available through Saegis.
How experienced is the person who conducts the screening?
Steve Price served as a trademark research consultant with Lexicon Branding for over 18 years and interfaced frequently with trademark counsel at hundreds of companies including Microsoft, Intel, Coca-Cola, Research In Motion, Nokia, Proctor & Gamble, and Eli Lilly.
Does preliminary trademark screening provide an advantage?
Yes. There are millions of trademarks in the world. Before you develop a new trademark, Tessera can evaluate your name’s uniqueness against many of the same databases an attorney will use when he or she orders a full search report. Quick and thorough preliminary trademark screening saves time and money, and increases the chances that the best names get to market.
How quickly does Tessera turnaround a project?
Usually within 24 to 48 hours.
How much does it cost?
Screening and analysis costs are much lower than those provided by law firms, paralegals, or in-house employees. Screening costs begin at $100 for one name with each additional name costing $25 each, if screening is on the US Federal and US State trademark registers only or $30 each if screening includes trademark registers outside the US.
Is there a report?
Yes. Electronic reports containing all relevant identical and similar marks, classes of goods and services, descriptions of goods and services, registration and filing date, and the owner’s name are available.
“Embarking on the journey of running your own business is very exciting, but it can also be very intimidating and frustrating. When we were brainstorming names, Tessera Trademark Screening was our first stop. We knew that Steve's services would help offset some of our attorney fees, but what we did not know was the added bonus that came along with it. Steve really listened to our needs and provided useful insight on naming. He is quick and reliable. Without hesitation, Steve has my highest recommendation.”
Tessera Trademark Screening
415-272-7375
steve@tessera.bz