Trademark clearance search report before you launch a brand
Short answer
A trademark clearance search is a broad search for identical and similar earlier marks in every market and class you plan to use, done before launch to judge both registrability and infringement risk. Trademarking delivers it as a sourced, shareable report.
- Clearance looks at use risk, not only at whether the office will register you.
- Phonetic, spelling and translated variants are part of the search.
- The report lists each conflict with its official record.
Clearance search versus a quick availability check
Start with a trademark name availability search for a long list, then clear the two or three names you like most.
| Availability check | Clearance search | |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Drop risky names fast | Decide before investing in a brand |
| Variants | Close spellings | Spelling, sound, plurals, prefixes and suffixes |
| Classes | Your main class | Your classes plus related classes |
| Offices | Offices you pick | Every market on your launch plan |
| Output | Score and top conflicts | Written report with all relevant records |
What the report contains
- The searched name, offices, classes and date of the search.
- Every conflict grouped by risk, with similarity, status, owner and classes.
- Dead and expired marks shown separately, since they no longer block you at the office but may still be in use.
- Recommended classes and specification wording.
- A plain-language summary for founders and a detail section for your attorney.
Who uses clearance reports
Founders clear a name before buying the domain and printing packaging. Naming and branding agencies screen candidate names for clients and send the report under their own brand on the Agency plan. In-house teams clear sub-brands and product names before a launch, and add the winner to trademark monitoring once filed.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a clearance search cover unregistered use?
- It covers registered and pending marks in official registries. Unregistered common-law use, which matters especially in the US, is not in registries; we recommend a web and marketplace check for your final name.
- Can my attorney use the report?
- Yes. Every record links to the official register, so an attorney can verify each conflict and give a formal opinion.
- How long does a clearance search take?
- The search itself runs in minutes. Reviewing the report takes most people under an hour.
- Can an agency brand the report?
- On the Agency plan reports can carry your agency name and logo instead of ours.
Keep reading
General information as of 2026, not legal advice. Trademarking is not a law firm. Official fees are set by each office and paid to the office directly.