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If you are going to be selling products made with your Silhouette or Cricut, you’ve got to learn the basics of trademarks. I’ve written extensively about trademarks in this section on the blog. But, that isn’t enough. You’ve got to learn how to search the TESS (Trademark Electronic Search System) database, because TESS is the government’s trademark database. Most live and dead trademark registrations live in this database. Today, I’ll walk you through searching the database and interpreting the results.
How to Search the TESS Database
- Go to the TESS Database at the US Patent and Trademark Office online.
- For most Silhouette or Cricut uses, a basic search will tell you if you can use a phrase or words in your products. Click the top choice, “Basic Word Mark Search”.
- Enter words or a phrase into the search box and click “Submit Query”. For this example, I’ve used the phrase “team bride”. There are additional tips on the bottom of the TESS Database page to help you conduct searches.
- If there is a registered mark in the TESS Database, you will see a results page that gives you further information. If multiple registered marks are present, they will be presented in a list where you can click on each one to get more information. Results will be listed as either “LIVE” or “DEAD”. Dead trademarks are no longer protected and can be used.
- The information that is most useful is 1) the registered mark, this is what the trademark owner has registered and you cannot legally use their trademark without permission. 2) The items for which the trademarked term applies to. In this example, “team bride” is trademarked for “clothing for bachelorette parties – tops, tank tops, t-shirts, headwear, sweatshirts, sweatpants and jackets.” This means that if you want to put “team bride” on a tumbler, that is NOT a violation of this registered trademark. 3) The trademark owner’s information. If you really want to use a trademarked term or design, you can reach out to the trademark owner and discuss licensing options. Individual trademark owners may or may not be open to licensing, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
- If the term that you search for does not match any registered marks, you’ll see the page shown below.
When Should You Search the TESS Database?
- Before you start making products with phrases or quotes in your Silhouette or Cricut business.
- If you receive a claim from a seller stating that you are violating their trademark, you should always check it out before taking down your listings. There have been a lot of sellers claiming rights to things when they don’t actually have it registered. These sellers are attempting to use scare tactics to eliminate their competition.
It’s important to note that trademarks are approved daily, so the database is always expanding. Additionally, not all trademarks will show up in the database (this includes those that are pending and those that the owner has chosen not to list in the database).
Lastly, if you are interested in registering your own trademark, it is wise to consult a trademark attorney who can advise you on the steps involved and complete the paperwork for you. If you found this tutorial helpful, don’t forget it pin it by hovering over the image below.
Since 2015, Christine Schinagl has been helping crafters start and run craft businesses through her blog, Cutting for Business. As a Silhouette and Cricut crafter herself, she has a unique take on what works and what doesn’t work in the craft business world. She also enjoys teaching other crafters how to create digital SVG designs, available through the Design with Me series.
Angela
Sunday 22nd of July 2018
Hi, Christina!
Great information, as usual. Thanks for doing the initial leg-work on this for us. Your article states that if a word or phrase is not trademarked for my product offering (wood signs), it is legal to use that word/phrase on (my) wood signs. I read the "Goods and Services" description for each search result for Daughter of the King, and wood signs are not listed. Based on the article and additional research, it's legal to use "Daughter of the King" on wood signs...for now. :) Just want to confirm - is my interpretation correct?
Follow up question: If this phrase was trademarked for wood signs, does that prevent use in a broader quote, "I am a daughter of the king who is not moved ....."?
Thank you for your time! Angela
Christine
Monday 24th of September 2018
Sounds like your interpretation is correct. :)
Karissa
Wednesday 17th of January 2018
Christine, I am seriously thinking of starting a small vinyl/handmade gifts business from home. My question is, if I want to use an image that is already registered, Can I make alterations to the image, ie insert a monogram, to make it original? Thanks, Karissa
Christine
Friday 19th of January 2018
Honestly, it's a shade of grey. There is no set percentage of change to an original or anything like that. If your design can cause "customer confusion", it would be a trademark infringement.
Megan
Monday 30th of October 2017
If you do a search on the TESS database, and an image comes up, is it just the image that is trademarked or the word in the image? What I'm wanting to do is make shirts with our school's team name. The shirts would simply say "Wolfpack". When I query for Wolfpack, it looks like a hockey team's logo comes up. I'm wondering if this would mean that the image can't be used or if the words can't be used as well. I thought I had a pretty good grasp on the trademarking situation, but this has me stumped :) Thanks for your help!!
Christine
Tuesday 31st of October 2017
While I haven't looked up that specific trademark, if you are wanting to use your school's logo - get permission from the school itself.
Katlyn Howard
Wednesday 20th of September 2017
Do you suggest getting your business name trademarked before signing up for you domain and really diving into getting your business started?
Christine
Wednesday 20th of September 2017
If you name is in high demand, then by all means - trademark it. Otherwise, most small businesses don't.
Danielle Riley
Friday 11th of August 2017
Hello ,
I have found several phrases that are not trademarked. Can I start creating these items or do I need to worry about someone trademarking them and then I be in the wrong and sued for someone trademarking it later in life?
Christine
Tuesday 15th of August 2017
If something gets trademarked after you've been using it, you will have to prove that you used it before it was trademarked.