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Trademarks vs. Trade Names

Trade names are not the same as trademarks.

Some trade names are also trademarks (in the case of Coca-cola®). But many other companies register trademarks that are completely different from their trade name ( in the case of the Subaru® trademark registered to the company Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd.).

Trademarks

Trademarks are words, names symbols, designs, phrases, slogans, or a combination thereof that are used to identify and distinguish goods in the marketplace. A trademark is a synonym for brand name.

To register a trademark on the federal level you must be using it or have an intent to use it in interstate commerce. Trademarks can be registered on the Federal level and/or the State level.

Trademark law protects both trademarks (on goods) and service marks (on services).

Here at the University of Washington Engineering Library we have the CASSIS System that you can search for Federally Registered Trademarks and Federal Trademarks Pending only. A comparable database of trademark information is available on the USPTO website. See http://www.uspto.gov/tmdb/index.html. (Please read and understand the "Important Notice: Limitations Regarding The PTO’s Web Trademark Database" prior to using this database.)

The University of Washington Engineering Library does not have any information available about State Trademarks. For more information about Washington State trademarks you must inquire at
Office of the Secretary of State, Corporations Division
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/corps/

Corporations Division
The Dolliver Building (Old Federal Bldg)
801 Capitol Way, PO Box 40228
Olympia, Washington 98504-0228
1 (360) 753-7115 (dial "5" for a direct operator)

E-mail: corps@secstate.wa.gov

For information about State Trademarks from other states, contact that Office of the Secretary of State for the state(s)you are interested in.

Trade Names

All names that identify business entities are trade names. Trade name is a synonym for company name.

Each state has business license requirements which involve registering these names with the city, county, or state offices. Corporations must usually register with their Office of Secretary of State.

To find out more about business names in Washington State contact:

Master License Service
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9034
Olympia, WA 98507-9034
Phone: (360) 664-1400
Fax: (360) 570-7875

Also take a look at the Trade Name Registration FAQs at: http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/faqtradename.html.

You can now search Washington State's Business and Professional License Search database here: http://www.dol.wa.gov/business/checkstatus.html.

If you want to request a search by mail to see if a trade name you want to use is already registered, send a letter with your return address, a list of the names you want to research, and a check or money order to pay the search fee. The cost is $4 to search up to 3 names.

If they do not find a filing, it does not mean the name is not being used, only that it has not been registered.

Send your letter to:

Mailing Address:
Department of Licensing
Master License Service
PO Box 9034
Olympia, WA 98507-9034

e-mail: MLS@dol.wa.gov

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Last modified: Tuesday July 31, 2007