Patents, Trademarks, and Copyright

The webpages of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office provide authoritative information for those seeking either a patent or trademark in the United States.  (These are only highlights.)

The Patents pages include:

• Patent basics.
• The steps for obtaining a patent.
• The Patent Public Search database for searching and viewing U.S. (not international) patents.  (Most of us prefer to use Google Patents.)
• Where to file a patent application online through the Patent Center.  It's also where you can see application information from others.

The Trademark pages include:

• Information on how to obtain a trademark.
• The Trademark Search System for searching U.S. trademarks.
• The TEAS portal for filing
  • TEAS is expected to go away by the beginning of 2025
  • Replaced by Trademark Center.
• The TSDR database for viewing application information from others.

Access Our Free Services is a guide for both those interested in patenting and for those working with trademarks.