Launching a new brand or product? One of the most crucial steps you must take is a trademark clearance search. It’s your best defense against costly disputes, rebranding headaches, and lost market opportunities.
But here’s the hard truth:
A quick Google search isn’t a clearance search—and it won’t secure your brand.
Why Google Alone Won’t Cut It
Relying on Google is like buying a house by only looking at the curb—you miss the hidden legal risks beneath the surface.
Google shows you active websites, but it doesn’t reveal federally registered or pending trademarks, state registrations, or unregistered (common law) marks that still carry legal weight.
Worse, some conflicting marks may have no online presence at all but can still block your trademark application or cause infringement claims.
What Makes a Clearance Search Proper and Defensible?
✔️ A Deep Dive into the USPTO Database You can’t simply search for an exact match. A thorough search covers similar-sounding, phonetically alike, and visually confusing variations.
✔️ State and Common Law Trademark Checks Many trademarks aren’t federally registered but still exist in the marketplace or state registries.
✔️ Industry-Specific and Market Research Conflicts often come from businesses in related or overlapping fields. Understanding the marketplace context is key.
✔️ Legal Analysis by a Trademark Professional This is the most critical part: only a trademark lawyer or trained specialist can evaluate the risk of “likelihood of confusion” based on complex legal standards and case law. It’s not just about finding identical marks; it’s about interpreting the risk.
Why You Should Leave This to the Pros
Trademark clearance is not a DIY task. Without expert guidance, you risk:
🚩 Application refusals from the USPTO for conflicting marks you didn’t spot.
🚩 Costly infringement lawsuits that can damage your business and reputation.
🚩 Forced rebranding, which drains time, money, and goodwill you worked hard to build.
A proper trademark clearance search is a professional service designed to give you confidence that your brand can safely enter the market.
Don’t rely on Google or shortcuts when your brand’s future is at stake.
At R.J. Pierce Law Group, P.C., we specialize in comprehensive trademark clearance searches that minimize risk and maximize your chances of registration success.
👉 Ready to secure your brand the right way? Connect with us or book a discovery call session today.
