Trademarks

Learn More About Trademarks and Service Marks

A trademark identifies the source of businesses' goods, and distinguishes them from those of others. A trademark can be anything that functions as source indicator, such as a name, word, logo, or design. A service mark is similar to a trademark, but is used for services. Business owners commonly file for federal registration of their trademarks. Trademarks and service marks serve to protect the public from confusion between similar business products or services.

Trademark Searches 

CorpAmerica provides a comprehensive search of federal, state, and commonlaw trademarks or service marks for $550.00. To process an order, we simply need payment authorization, the name or logo, and the category of goods to be searched. An attorney or legal advisor should consulted for assistance in interpreting the results of a search, as CorpAmerica does not provide legal advice regarding the potential for trademark infringement or the availability of marks for adoption or registration. To place an order for a comprehensive search, please contact a business specialist at 877-246-2462 or 302-636-5448.

Trademark Filings

Trademarks and service marks can be filed at the state or federal level. The use of a name or logo can sometimes give its owner 'common law' trademark rights (that is, rights to unregistered marks), but only federally registered trademarks may use the federal registration symbol. This symbol appears as an R enclosed in a circle: ®. The TM or SM symbol can be used to designate common law trademarks and service marks. Marks are filed at the federal level through the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). Maintaining a federal trademark registration involves continuing to use the registered mark as well as meeting renewal requirements of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Benefits of Trademark Registration

  • Simple and effective way for business owners to claim and prove ownership of a trademark
  • Establishes nationwide rights in the mark and presumption of validity and ownership
  • May have international benefits, such as gaining eligibility to register a trademark in another country or with U.S. Customs Service to prevent infringing foreign goods from being imported

Though we can assist customers in trademark searches, CorpAmerica does not currently complete trademark or service mark filings. For more information regarding how to file a trademark, visit the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Trademark FAQs

1. How does a trademark differ from a service mark?

Though both a trademark and a service mark can help distinguish one business from another, a trademark is associated with a product, while a service mark is associated with a service.

2. How do I conduct a trademark search to find out what is already registered?

CorpAmerica provides a comprehensive search of federal, state, and commonlaw trademarks or service marks for $550.00. To place an order for a comprehensive search, please contact a Business Specialist at 877-246-2462 or 302-636-5448.

3. How do I register a trademark?

Though we can assist customers in trademark searches, CorpAmerica does not currently complete trademark or service mark filings. For more information regarding how to file a trademark, visit the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

4. How do registered trademarks appear?

Only federally registered trademarks may use the federal registration symbol, which is an R enclosed in a circle: ®. The TM or SM symbol can be used for common law trademarks or service marks.