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2.2 Simple text searches

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Go to Search the Register>Trade Mark Search.


2.2.1 Which search option should I use?

For quick searches, for example where you already know the trade mark title or case number you are after, the quickest option is to use the “keyword” search. Simply enter your word or words into the Keyword field or enter the IP case number.

[image] 2.2.1 Screen shot

Please note that this search is only intended to give you a quick indication on whether a trade mark exists on the Register. If you are new to the trade mark registration system, you should consider using our Search & Preliminary Advice service to get a trade mark examiner to do the search for you, or seek the assistance of an experienced IP Professional.

Experienced users requiring more powerful search options should use the Advanced Search. This search allows you to construct complex search strings and search a wider range of parameters. When searching for a trade mark you should use the Title search and incorporate searching operators to conduct a thorough search for similar trade marks.

[image] Search trade mark case.


2.2.2 Searching for identical and similar marks

Think laterally; remember you are looking for any marks that may be too similar to your proposed mark. In the Title field use combinations of terms, common misspellings, text speak and combinations of stem words. There are a range of search operators and wild cards which will help provide a comprehensive search. The search operators (AND, OR, and AND NOT), quotation marks and wildcards (* and ?) can be used singularly or together to form complex search strings.

Operator/wildcard

Function
AND

Using AND between terms will search for marks which contain both terms. It will be calculated before OR requests
OR/spaces

Using OR between terms will return results which contain either term. If no operator is chosen, and only a space is left between the terms the system will automatically default to OR.
AND NOT

Using AND NOT [term] after your search string will exclude marks from your results which contain the term.

You can also use NOT [term], without the AND. However, this will produce results of all marks which do not contain that term, unrelated to your initial search, unless used in conjunction with a search in a field other than TITLE.
( ) brackets

Brackets override the rule that ANDs will be calculated before ORs. Enabling you to combine multiple searches in one.
?

This wildcard is used to represent a single character. It may be used in any part of a word.
*

This wildcard is used to represent several characters or no characters. To find marks where your term is the prefix use it at the end of the word, where your mark is the suffix use it at the beginning of the word.
“SINGLEWORD” quotation marks

Placing quotation marks around a single word or letter will produce results where the entire mark title consists of that single word or letter. This is especially beneficial where the single word or letter produces too many hits, such as kiwi or eco.
“MULTIPLE WORD PHRASE” quotation marks

Placing quotation marks around a group of words or phrases will return results where the mark contains that phrase in the order written. Use this in combination with wild cards.

 

Examples of word searches to find similar or identical marks

Example 1: PLASTERCOTE

  • plast*c* OR plast*k* OR plast*q* OR pla?st*c* OR pla?st*k* OR pla?st*q*
  • (plast* pla?st*) AND (*coat* *koat* *cot* *kot*)
     

Example 2: LEARNING MEDIA

  • (*l?rnin* *learn*) AND ( *m?d?a* *me?d?a* *m?ed?a*)
  • “learning media”
  • “*learning media*”
     

Example 3: MILLENNIUM

  • m?l?n*m* OR m?ll?n*m*
  • *mil?n*m* OR *mill?n*m* OR *myl?n*m* OR *myll?n*m*

 

Example 4: JUICY ORANGE

  • (*juic* OR *j??c*) AND *orang*
  • Juic*
  • *rang* AND NOT (*strang* *ranger*)


Example 5: ECO KIWI

  • (*eco* *ecko* *ecco* *echo* *ekko*) AND (*kiwi* *k*w*)
  • “ECO” OR “KIWI”
  •  Eco* AND NOT *ecologic*
     

Example 6: A

  • “A”
  • A* AND NOT “A?*”

 

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Last updated 11 December 2012

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