Trade mark links

This page concentrates on databases and official gazettes in trade marks, both free and priced, from anywhere in the world, plus domain names material. For other material, British and European sources are favoured, as American sites are already well catered for by gateway sites. Sources of legal information and advice are little covered although GGMark is a useful, US-biased starting point. This site is meant for experts and you should ask for help if you are unsure about what you are doing. Although we are willing to help, we are librarians and not experts on the law.

The Internet is constantly evolving and new sites will emerge, whilst existing sites may change addresses or emphases. No liability is accepted for any errors of commission or omission. However, if you come across any problems in using the hypertext links, or have suggestions for further sites, please let us know. You are welcome to link to us.

Much relevant information will be found on our other lists of links such as for litigation and patent office sites (such as that of the United Kingdom).

These are our other lists of links:

Key patent databases

Designs links

Patent offices

Patent and other links

Unless otherwise stated, the sites on this list were understood, at the time of compilation, to be free to use.

This page was updated on 2 April 2008.

Classification schemes

• Euroclass trade mark classification tool
  
• International trademark classification
  Nice Agreement for the kinds of products or services involved.
  
• International trademark classification
  Britain's useful database for identifying Nice classes for products or services.
  
• International trademark (figurative) classification
  Vienna Agreement for the appearance of trade marks.
  
• USPTO Design Search Code Manual
  US variant of Vienna Classification for figurative marks.

Databases and gazettes

This list includes domain name registries. See also the legislation & litigation heading. The coverage of Internet domain name databases is selective.

• Adslogans.com
  Priced.
  Database of advertising slogans.
  
• Adverteyes
  Priced.
  Database of slogans etc. from UK, Irish and US advertising since 1950.
• [Albania] Buletini i pronesise industriale
  Industrial property gazette. From December 2005.
  
• [Algeria] Bulletin official de la propriété industrielle
  Allows searching in journal or from trade mark no. 59801.
• [Andorra database]
  Free registration for more than brief results.
  
• [Argentina] Boletines de marcas
  From the 27 June 2001.
  
• [Argentina Provisional Trade Marks]
  Zip files.
  
• [Argentina, Trade Marks Database]
  Entirely in Spanish. Subscription.
  
• Article 6ter Structured Search
  WIPO database of flags, emblems, acronyms etc. which member states do not wish to be used as trade marks.
• Australian Official Journal of Trade Marks
  From March 2004, in PDF format.
  
• [Australia] Trade Marks Searchable Journal
• [Australia] ATMOSS Australian Trade Mark On-line Search System
  Pending and active Australian registered marks plus those lapsed, etc. from about 1990. Figurative marks can be searched for by "image descriptor" phrases.
  
• [Australia] Trade Mark Image Display
  Enables viewing of trade marks with pictures or fancy typescripts by number.
  
• [Australia] Trade Marks Mainframe Database
  Database including registry and other legal information. Software must be loaded before use.
  
• [Austria] Markenanzeiger
  Gazette from 20 December 2005.
  
• [Austria Trade mark database]
  Priced.
  
• [Austrian Trade Mark Status Database]
  Partially priced.
  
• AvantIQ
  Priced.
  Many trade mark databases.
  
• [Belarus, Trade Mark Database] New!
  Site is entirely in Belarusian.
  
• [Belize] Intellectual Property Journal New!
  From April 2003.
  
• [Benelux] Trademarks Register
  Covers Belgium, Luxembourg and The Netherlands (which since 1971 have not had national trade marks).
  
• [Bolivia] Publicaciones New!
  From September 2005.
  
• [Brazil] Revista de Propriedade Industrial
  From June 2005. Secao II is for trade marks.
  
• [Brazil, Trade marks database] database]
  
• [Brazil] Revista de marcas
  On right hand side of page. Last three issues only.
  
• [Britain] Find trade marks by number
• [Britain] Find trade marks by proprietor
  Only covers British national marks.
  
• [Britain] Trade Mark Enquiry
  Includes British designated marks under the Madrid Agreement Protocol (prefixed M) or Community Trade Marks (prefixed E) which are cited under their original numbers. Registered company names can invalidate trade mark applications, and these are searchable at the Companies House site. The "Classification" link in left hand column is useful for identifying the Nice class for a product or service. Searchable by Vienna classification.
  
• [Britain] Trade Marks Journal
  Last 12 months only.
  
• [Britain] Waterlow Signature
  Priced.
  Single database with details and images of British trade marks including Community and Madrid Agreement marks.
  
• [Bulgaria] BPO-Online [database]
  Click on "Search in... BPO-Online" icon on righthand side. Site is entirely in Bulgarian.
  
• [Canada] List of geographical indications for wines and spirits
  
• [Canada] Trade-marks journal
  PDF version of journal from the 5 January 2000.
  
• Canadian trade marks database
  Active Canadian registered marks plus those lapsed, etc. from 1979 and some from before. Searchable by Vienna classification.
  
• [Chile] Consulta de marcas
  Site is entirely in Spanish.
  
• [Chile] Gazeta Electronica New!
  Gazette from May 2003.
  
• [China Trademark Database]
  Official site. Entirely in Chinese.
  
• China Trademark Database
  Partly priced.
  
• [Community Trade Mark] CTM-online
  Database of Community trade marks. Use the "Advanced" option to search by proprietor.
• Community Trade Marks Bulletin
  From 1 September 2003. Offers a single trade mark for the entire EU. There is also a PDF version.
  
• [Croatia Trade Mark Database]
  
• Czech Republic
  Appellations of origin listings.
  
• Czech Republic gazette
  From 2000. Part B is for trade marks.
  Navigate to by selecting Publications tab, then Official Journal in the left hand column.
• Czech Republic [Trade marks database]
  Test version. Covers national trade marks. Madrid registrations for the country are on another database.
  
• [Denmark] Dansk varemaerke tidende
  Gazette from January 1997. Annual indexes from 1998.
• [Denmark] IP Registers
  Status information, with more information available with free registration.
• [Denmark] Register of intellectual property rights [Trade Marks]
  Free registration for more information.
• DialogSelect Open Access
  Partly priced.
  Comprehensive domain searching database.
• [Dominican Republic] Boletin oficial New!
  From 2002.
• [Dominican Republic] Consulta de Signos Distinctivos New!
  Database. Entirely in Spanish.
  
• [Estonia] Geographical indication database
  
• [Estonia] Trademark database
  Includes Madrid Agreement trade marks.
• [Estonia] Trademark Gazette
  From January 2003.
  
• [European Union] Registered product names
  Databases for three protected concepts: Protected Designation of Origin, Protected Geographical Indication, Traditional Speciality Guaranteed.
  
• [Finland] Trademark Database
  
• [France] Plutarque
  Partly priced.
  National trade marks from 1976 plus international trade marks. Jurisdiction and mark given in free result lists.
  
• [France] Societe.com
  Priced.
  Database of active French trade marks, including national and international trade marks.
  
• France] Web Icimarques
  Partly priced.
  Database of active French trade marks, including national and international trade marks.
  
• [Georgia, Official Journal]
  From no. 3, 2004.
  
• [Germany] DEMASWEB
  Priced.
  Database by Wila for German national plus Madrid and Community trade marks.
• [Germany] Markenblatt
  Click on "trade marks". From January 2004. Also contains search engine for all national trade marks in force. Searchable by Vienna Classification.
  Also links to geographical indications of origin listing.
  
• [Germany Trade Marks Database]
  Free registration.
  Official database. Covers national registered and refused marks. Searchable by Vienna classification.
  
• Hong Kong Intellectual Property Journal
  Official journal on trade mark matters from 4 April 2003.
  
• [Hong Kong] Trade mark search
  Searchable by Vienna classification.
  
• Hungarian trade marks
  Free registration.
  Database of active Hungarian trade marks from 1996 and applications from August 1997. Also geographical indications.
  
• Hungary Gazette of Patents and Trademarks
  From 1996.
  
• [Iceland database]
  
• [Iceland] ELS-tidindi Island
  Official gazette from 1990. Includes trade marks.
  
• [India, Mahtta TradeMark Company]
  Not actually a database but site offers free searches on your behalf in selected classes in India with e-mailed reports. Not to be used on British Library workstations.
  
• Internet domain names
  Includes database.
• [Ireland] Patents Office Journal
  From 12 June 2002. Includes trade marks.
  
• [Ireland] Trademark Database Search
  
• [Ireland] Trademark Register
  
• [Israel] Trade Marks Database
• Japanese figure trademarks
  English-language database of bibliographic data and legal status of logos etc. with images.
  After a search click on "index" to see results list. Searchable by Vienna Classification.
  
• Japanese trade mark database
  English-language database of bibliographic data and legal status from 1898, with images.
  After a search click on "index" to see results list.
  
• Japanese well-known trade mark database
  English-language database of bibliographic data and legal status from 1898, with images.
  After a search click on "index indication" to see results list.
  
• [Jersey] Judicial Greffe, Trademarks database
• Kompass
  Partially priced.
  International coverage. Free to search for a mark, priced to search by company name.
• [Korea, trade mark searching]
  Official site.
  
• Lisbon Structured Search
  For appellations of origin.
  
• [Lithuania] Database of the Register of Trademarks of the Republic of Lithuania
  
• [Lithuania, Official Gazette]
  From 2005.
  
• [Madrid Agreement] Madrid Express Structured Search
  Database of currently protected Madrid Agreement trade marks applications, with images. Search Nice class in the format 05, Vienna classification in the format 03.01.
• [Madrid Agreement] Romarin
  Searched in similar way to Madrid Express database, but provides more detailed status results.
  
• [Madrid Agreement] WIPO Gazette of International Marks
  From February 2005.
• Marketing and advertising slogans, mottos, taglines
  Russian database but international coverage.
• Marquesa Trade Mark Search Systems
• Mednet
  Free registration.
  WHO database with recommended and proposed non-proprietary names for pharmaceuticals.
• [Mexico Status Database]
  Searchable only by application or registration number.
  
• [Moldova] BOPI [Official Bulletin]
  From 2000. Includes trade marks. Follow links to year below "BOPI".
• [Moldova, Database of Trade marks and appellations of origin]
  Free registration.
  
• Morocco [Trade marks database]
  
• NameEngine™
  Domain name search engine.
  
• Namewatcher
  Partly priced.
  Database of Internet domain names.
  
• Network Solutions [Database of Internet domain names]
• [New Zealand] Trade Mark Journal
  Search engine for gazette from 31 October 2002, accessible only by clicking on Online Journal and then Trade Marks in left hand column. Searchable by Vienna Classification.
  
• [New Zealand] Trademark search
  Partly priced.
  Database including status information.
  
• Nominet
  Includes database of .uk domain names.
  
• [Norway] Varemerketidende
  Links to gazette issues from 1998. There is an annual name index.
• OHIM Official Journal
  From 1998. Notices on trade mark matters.
• Pakistan, Trade Marks Journal New!
  From July 1996.
  
• [Peru Trade marks database]
  Searchable only by registration number or by registration date.
• [Philippines] IPO e-gazette
  Free subscription.
  From 17 December 2004.
  
• [Philippines] Philippine Trademark Online Search System
• [Poland trade mark database]
  Select among national, Madrid and geographical indications and then select format of search. Searchable by Vienna Classification.
  
• [Poland] Wydawnictawa urzedu patentowego
  Gazette from 1999. Wiadomosci urzedu patentowego consists of data on granted rights including trade marks (znaki).
• [Portugal] Boletimonline
  From 2004. Includes drawings of designs in numerical order.
  
• [Portugal] Marcas Online [database]
  Enter shown security code to run a search.
  
• Raymond Morris Group aRMadillo database
  Priced.
  Databases of British and Community trade marks.
  
• [Russia] Goods and places of origin database
  Free registration.
  
• [Russia] List of the Well-known Trademarks of Russia
• [Russia] Register of the Russian Good Places of Origin
• [Russia] Register of the Russian Trademarks and Service Marks
  Searchable only by registration number.
• [Russia] Trade marks database
  Free registration.
• [Russia, Trade Marks and places of origin gazette]
  Last couple of issues only.
  
• [Singapore] eTrademarks Search
• Singapore Trade Marks eJournal
• [Slovakia, Database]
  
• [Slovenia] BIL: Bilten za industrijsko lastnino
  Industrial property gazette. From 28 February 2006.
  
• [Slovenia Trade Mark database]
  
• [Spain] File Status
  Legal status of trade marks.
  
• [Spain] Gazette
  Details of its gazettes for the last 4 weeks covering patents, utility models, designs, trade marks in Adobe Acrobat format.
• [Spain] Trademark Locator Service
  Database of national and international marks. Searchable by Vienna Classification.
  
• SurfIP
  Select "Trademarks" for database covering Canada, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and the UK.
• [Sweden] PRVLink Trademark New!
  Partly priced subscription.
• [Sweden] Varumärkesregistret
  Priced subscription database. Includes status data
  
• [Switzerland Trademark Database]
  Click on "Search query" and then select database.
  
• [Switzerland] Gazette, Teil IV
  1997-1998 only. Trade marks.
  
• Thomson & Thomson -- Trademark
  Priced but some databases are free.
  Many trade mark databases.
  
• Trademark Explorer
  Priced.
  European and North American trade mark databases offered by Questel.Orbit.
  
• TrademarkSolutions.com
  Offers free search of a specific trade mark in dozens of countries with replies 36 hours later.
• [Turkey, Trade marks database]
  
• [Turkmenistan Gazette]
  From 1997. Mainly trade marks.
  
• uk2.net
  Domain name database.
  
• [Ukraine] Database Information about Well-known Marks in Ukraine
  
• [Ukraine] Database Marks for Goods and Services Registered in Ukraine
  
• [Uruguay] Boletin de la propriedad industrial
  From May 1999.
  
• [US] Assignments on the Web
  Official site. Change of ownership etc. from 1950.
  
• US Customs Electronic Bulletin Board
  Trademarks and patents recorded with US Customs.
  
• [US] Drug Information
  Indexes by trade name the drugs in the US Pharmacopeia.
  
• U.S. Fastener Quality Act: insignia recordals
  Official site. Separate Adobe Acrobat registers of active, inactive and cancelled insignia.
  
• U.S. State Trademark & Name Databases
  
• [US] TARR: Trademark Application & Registration Retrieval
  Official site. Gives status information on known American serial or registration numbers.
  
• [US] Trademark.Com™
  Priced.
  MicroPatent site with US federal, state and much common law trade mark data.
  
• [US] Trademark Document Retrieval
  Data on pending and registered trade marks (in progress). Searchable only by application or registration number.
  
• U.S. Trademark Electronic Search System [TESS]
  Official site. Figurative marks can be searched for on the "Free form" format as e.g. <60307 DC> using their Design Search Code Manual, a variant of the Vienna Classification.
  
• [US] Trademark Official Gazette
  Official site. The last five weekly issues.
  
• [US] The Trademark Register
  Partly priced.
  
• [US] TrademarkWeb
  Priced.
  MicroPatent's trade mark resources.
• [Venezuela] Certificados Publicados de Marcas New!
  Last six gazette issues only.
  
• [Venezuela] Consulta por Nombres de Marcas
  
• VeriSign Naming and Directory Services
  The "authoritative directory provider for all .com, .net, .cc, and .tv domain names."
• [Vietnam] Search trademarks
  Site is entirely in Vietnamese.

Legislation & litigation

Many databases that are not specifically for trade marks will be covered on the World Legal Information Institute site while our Patent and other links site has some relevant sites.

• American Samoa Domain Name Decisions
• Asian Name Dispute Resolution Centre (Beijing Office)
  The "Decisions" listing is a Javascript link in the lefthand column.
• Asian Name Dispute Resolution Centre (Hong Kong)
  The "Decisions" listing is a Javascript link in the lefthand column.
• Australia Domain Name Decisions
  2003 onwards.
• [Australia] High Court of Australia cases
  Database and text from 1947. Includes trade marks.
  
• [Australia] Trade Mark Hearing Decisions
  Official site. Selected trade mark cases from 1992.
• Australian Trade Marks Office Decisions
  Official site. Selected trade mark cases from 1991.
• Belize Domain Name Decisions
  2003 onwards.
• [Benelux Trademarks Office] Jurisprudence
  Database and transcripts of decisions.
• [Britain] Find refused cases
  Trade mark applications refused by the UK Intellectual Property Office.
  
• [Britain] Handling of Preliminary References to the European Court of Justice
  Mostly trade marks.
  
• [Britain] Nominet UK dispute /Resolution Service
  Decisions and appeals of the UK body for registering domain names.
  
• [Britain] Trade Marks Act (1994)
  
• [Britain] Results of past decisions
  Database containing decisions from the Patent Office's own court, and Appointed Person cases, from January 1998.
  
• [Bulgaria, Trade mark decisions] New!
  Click on "Search in... BPO-Online" icon on righthand side, then on Cyrillic button beneath search box in left hand border. Site is entirely in Bulgarian (but headings can be asked for in English).
  
• [Canada] Supreme Court
  Database and text of decisions since 1985.
  
• Cocos (Keeling) Island Domain Name Decisions
  2002 onwards.
• [Community Trademark] Boards of Appeal decisions
  
• [Community Trademark] Cancellation decisions
  
• [Community Trademark] Opposition decisions
  
• [Community Trademark] Refused trade marks
  
• CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution
  Domain name decisions.
  
• [eResolution] Domain name administrative decisions
  Ceased functioning in December 2001.
  
• European Court of Justice
  Contains the full text of cases from the 17 June 1997, including some trade mark cases.
• Generic Top Level Domain Name (gTLD) Decisions
  
• [Hong Kong] Index of trade mark decisions
  
• Ireland Domain Name Decisions
  2003 onwards.
  
• [Ireland] Written Grounds: Inter Partes Hearings
• Laos Domain Name Decisions
  2003 onwards.
  
• [Latvia] Decisions of the Board of Appeals in Trademark Appeal Cases
  
• [Latvia] Decisions of the Board of Appeals in Trademark Opposition Cases
  
• Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration (1958)
  
• Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (1891)
  
• Madrid Agreement for the Repression of False and Deceptive Indications of Source on Goods (1891)
• Madrid Protocol
  Protocol to the Madrid Agreement of 1891.
  
• Marques Case Law Database
  Free subscription.
  
• Marquesa databases
  Priced.
  British, Community and US trade mark databases plus British domain names.
  
• Mexico Domain Name Decisions
  
• [Moldova] Appeal Board cases
  English summaries from January 2001.
  
• Nairobi Treaty on the Protection of the Olympic Symbol (1981)
• National Arbitration Forum Domain Name Dispute Proceedings and Decisions
• National Law in the Field of Trade Marks
  OHIM site. Refers to EU member states.
  
• [New Zealand] Commissioner's Decisions
  Index and text of trade mark cases from 1953. Follow links from "Information Library" to "Commissioner's Decisions".
  
• Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (1957)
  
• Niue Domain Name Decisions
  2000 onwards.
  
• [Peru] Sala de Propiedad Intelectual del Tribunal de Indecopi
  Trade mark etc. decisions.
• Philippines Domain Name Decisions
  2001 onwards.
• [Philippines] IP Cases Status Search
  Brief details of, mostly, trade mark cases.
  
• Romania Domain Name Decisions
  2001 onwards.
  
• Samoa Domain Name Decisions
  2000 onwards.
• [Singapore] Trade Mark Decisions New!
  From 1999.
  
• [Switzerland] Decisions + ch: Schweizer kennzeichenrechtliche Entscheide
  Swiss trade mark decisions.
  
• [Switzerland] Rulings
  Databases including full-text searching of federal decisions since 1954.
  
• Trademark Law Treaty (1994)
• Tuvalu Domain Name Decisions
• Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy
  Site includes texts of decisions on domain name disputes.
  
• [US] Federal Circuit cases
  Emory University School of Law site. US Federal Circuit cases from August 1995 are searchable and viewable.
  
• [US] Federal Courts Finder
  Copies of cases and much else for US federal courts. Excellent starting point provided you know the court concerned. Divided by court (Supreme Court, Circuits 1 to 11, etc.).
  
• [US] Final Decisions of the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks
  
• [US] CourtLink®
  Priced Lexis-Nexis site.
  Much litigation information.
  
• [US] Supreme Court collection
  US Supreme Court cases from 1990.
  
• [US] Supreme Court opinions
  US Supreme Court opinions from 1893, searchable by keyword.
  
• [US] Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
  Includes Final decisions and decision summaries.
• [US] Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Information System
  Allows among other things searching by mark or party involved.
  
• [US] TTABVue
  Documents filed in proceedings before the Trademark Trial & Appeal Board, with most of the documents being filed from January 2003, and some from June 2001. Can only be searched by 8-digit proceedings numbers.
• [US] Who's Suing Whom: Patent, Copyright and Trademark Edition
  InterLingua.com's database.
  
• Venezuela Domain Name Decisions
  2003 onwards.
  
• Vienna Agreement Establishing an International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks (1973)
  
• [WIPO] Domain Name Dispute Resolution Service
• [WIPO] Search WIPO Cases and WIPO Panel Decisions New!
  

Official manuals on trade mark procedures

• [Australia] Trade Marks Office Manual of Practice and Procedure
  
• [Britain] Manual of Trade Marks Practice
  
• [Canada] Trade-Marks Examination Manual
  Amendments are listed separately as are the practice notes.
  
• [Canada] Wares & services manual
• [Hong Kong] Trade Marks Registry Work Manual
  
• [Japan] Examination guidelines for trademarks
  
• [Madrid Agreement] Guide to the international registration of marks under the Madrid Agreement and the Madrid Protocol
  
• [Switzerland] Richtlinien für die Markenprüfung [Guidelines for trade mark examination]
  
• [US] Trademark Acceptable Identification of Goods and Services Manual
• [US] Trademark Examination guides, notes and announcements
  
• [US] Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure
  
• [US] Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Manual of Procedure

Other sites

• AIM® European Brands Association
• The Band Register
  Database of music bands.
  
• Benelux Office for Intellectual Property
  
• [Britain] Mark-it ! The newsletter of the [UK] Trade Marks Registry
  Current issue only.
• British Brands Group
  
• [Community Trademark] Alicante News: European Trade Marks and Designs Newsletter
• [Community Trademark] OAMI-news
  Ceased with the first issue of 2004.
  
• Domain Name Registries around the World
• Domain Name Resolution Service
  
• Domain Names Rights Coalition
• EURid
  Official registry for .eu domain names.
  
• European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA)
  
• Euronice
  Translations of terms used when describing goods and services when applying to OHIM.
• Geographical indications: information about the protection of regional product names
  
• GG Mark
  Numerous links to trade mark matters, mostly US.
  
• Hong Kong Institute of Trade Mark Practitioners
  
• ICANN
  "The Internet corporation for assigned names and numbers". Has taken over responsibility from the US government.
  
• Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys
  British site.
  
• International Trademark Association
  
• The Journal, Hong Kong Institute of Trade Mark Practitioners
  
• Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks
  Home page.
  
• Madrid System of International Registration of Marks: Annual statistics
  From 1997.
  
• Nominet.uk
  Official registry for .uk domain names.
  
• [OHIM] Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (Trade Marks and Designs)
  
• Le Petit Musée des marques
  French site giving amusing or odd trade marks.
• [Statistics on trade marks]
  On OHIM site, of Community Trademarks from 1997 and of many European offices from 2001.