trademark-clearance

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

1. Proposed mark — exact mark as used (word, design, or combination)
2. Goods/services — description with Nice Classification codes
3. Geographic scope — U.S. minimum; add international jurisdictions if foreign expansion planned
4. Client context — current markets, expansion plans, channels of trade
5. Scope limitations — any industry, geographic, or time constraints

Quick Start

1. Gather inputs above
2. Search all applicable databases (federal, state, common law, international)
3. Tabulate conflicts ranked by similarity
4. Apply Lanham Act multi-factor test to each significant conflict
5. 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.