| name | trademark-clearance |
| title | Trademark Clearance Search Report |
| description | Generates a trademark clearance search report evaluating mark availability and registrability across federal (USPTO TESS), state, common law, and international sources. Applies the Lanham Act likelihood-of-confusion multi-factor test. Use when conducting trademark clearance searches, pre-filing availability opinions, or infringement risk assessments. |
| author | CaseMark |
| author_url | https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/trademark-clearance |
| license | Apache-2.0 |
| version | 0.1.0 |
| execution_mode | open |
| jurisdiction | us |
| practice | ip |
| language | en |
Trademark Clearance Search Report
Evaluates availability and registrability of a proposed mark across federal, state, common law, and international sources, with conflict analysis and actionable filing recommendations.
Required Inputs
- Proposed mark — exact mark as used (word, design, or combination)
- Goods/services — description with Nice Classification codes
- Geographic scope — U.S. minimum; add international jurisdictions if foreign expansion planned
- Client context — current markets, expansion plans, channels of trade
- Scope limitations — any industry, geographic, or time constraints
Quick Start
- Gather inputs above
- Search all applicable databases (federal, state, common law, international)
- Tabulate conflicts ranked by similarity
- Apply Lanham Act multi-factor test to each significant conflict
- Rate risk (High / Moderate / Low) and issue recommendation
Report Workflow
Step 1: Mark Identification
Tabulate: proposed mark (type: word/design/combo), goods/services with Nice codes, geographic scope, and any search limitations.
Step 2: Search Sources
| Source | Scope |
|---|
| USPTO TESS | Literal, phonetic, design code, foreign translation, spelling variations |
| State registries | Jurisdictions where client operates or plans to operate |
| Common law | Search engines, WHOIS, business directories, social media, trade publications |
| International | WIPO Global Brand Database, EUIPO eSearch-plus, national offices (if applicable) |
Step 3: Document Findings
For each potentially conflicting mark, record:
- Reg./Serial No. and status (Registered / Pending / Abandoned / Cancelled)
- Mark description (including design elements), owner, filing/reg. dates
- International class(es) and full goods/services description
- Similarity assessment: visual, phonetic, meaning, commercial impression
Organize by degree of conflict (most similar first). Include abandoned/cancelled marks — common law rights may persist.
State registrations: Same fields plus state of registration.
Document business name, goods/services, evidence of use (URLs, directories), geographic scope, and duration indicators.
