What Is USPTO? Domain Glossary

Why it matters

Before buying a name that could look like a brand, search the USPTO database. A registered mark in a related field is a warning. A trademark protects a word only for the goods and services it covers, so a common word may be fine in one industry and risky in another. The USPTO does not decide domain disputes. Those go to the UDRP, courts or other forums. A common mistake is thinking a clear USPTO search means the name is safe worldwide. Check other countries and unregistered, or common law, marks too.

Source: uspto.gov

Where we use this term

Related terms

Trademark: A trademark is a word, phrase, symbol, or design that identifies the source of goods or services. It can be registered or based on use, and it can limit how others use similar domain names.
Common law trademark: A common law trademark is a right that comes from actually using a name in commerce, without a government registration. The right is limited to the area where the name is used.
UDRP: The Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy, ICANN's rules for resolving trademark-based complaints about domains. A complainant must show three elements, and the usual remedy is transfer or cancellation.
Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH): The Trademark Clearinghouse is a central ICANN-mandated database of verified trademarks. Brand owners record marks there to get early access to new domains and notices when others register matching names.
Cybersquatting: Registering or using a domain name that matches or copies someone's trademark in bad faith, often hoping to sell it to the mark owner at a profit or to trade on its goodwill.

All 205 terms

Why it matters

Where we use this term

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