The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is a federal agency in the Department of Congress which grants and maintains records of patents and trademarks

The Patent Office Main Campus is located at 600 Dulany St. in Alexandria, Virginia (its original location was in the Crystal City area of Arlington, Virginia) on a campus consisting of five large buildings. Within the facility is over 9,500 employees consisting of engineers, analysts, attorneys and scientists. All of its employees work toward the common goal of protecting and enforcing United States intellectual property law. 

The USPTO has been able to maintain a full operating budget through the fees charged for patent and trademark registration since 1991. Along with the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO), the USPTO is one of the Trilateral Patent Offices of the world, responsible for handling most of the patents and trademarks that are enforced worldwide. Under the guidelines of the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the USPTO is also the authority for approving patent applications filed internationally in eligible countries.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has over 9,500 employees, including of 6,242 patent and trademark examiners, and almost 400 examining attorneys. It is essential for trademark examiners to have a law degree, though patent examiners do not need a law background and usually consist of scientists or engineers. 

The Commissioner for Patents is responsible for the management of three bodies in the USPTO. These bodies consist of Patent Operations, Patent Examination Policy, and Patent Resources and Planning.

Although the Trademark Office handles both patents and trademarks, the focus on trademarks has declined rapidly and shifted towards the registration of patents. This is due to the fact that entities have been given cheaper alternatives for trademark registration on a state-by-state basis. 

Trademarks are registered through the Principal Register or the Supplemental Register, depending on the distinctive appearance of the trademark. A stronger and more “distinct” trademark will usually be handled by the Principal Register.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) approves and keeps records of all trademarks registered by businesses, individuals and other entities. Trademarks in the USPTO database include trademarks which are active, dead and trademarks which have been submitted, but are still pending approval. 

If an individual, business or company is planning to establish a trademark, it is important to first perform a registered trademark search using one of the many available search options offered by the USPTO. A registered trademark search will give a company or entity enough information to rework or alter a trademark so that it does not get rejected for being too similar to another pre-existing trademark. Submitting a trademark to the USPTO without searching the database may cost the company or entity considerable amounts of time and money to court battles.

There are several trademark search options available. The USPTO has offered a physical and online public access trademark database at its Public Search Facility located in Alexandria, Virginia for trademarks registered since 1870. The physical database offers trademark records on bound paper volumes and on microfilm. In addition, official Gazettes are available which have valuable news and information about new trademarks and their ownership. 

Electronic database search is available in several forms. Trademarks can be searched electronically through the trademark examining attorney automated systems X-search, Trademark Image Capture System (TICRS), the Trademark Reporting and Monitoring System (TRAM), and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board VUE (TTABVUE). Those wishing to search the database remotely can also use the USPTO website from any computer connected to the internet.

The X-search at the USPTO for trademark text and retrieval is the most comprehensive way to search for trademarks. Although the X-search has been designed to be as intuitive as possible, users may feel overwhelmed on their first encounter with it. The USPTO offers a monthly three hour class for individuals to learn how to use the X-search system effectively. It covers all basic text and image search features of the automated system and all the commands structures included in it.

Accessing the trademark database at the USPTO for a trademark search is easier than ever due to the internet. Any person or entity with internet access can direct their website browser to www.uspto.gov to perform a quick trademark search of active, dead or pending trademarks within their system using the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS). 

An electronic bulletin offers updates and information to the public about the search system and records. Finally, Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries (PTDL) are available in many locations nationwide. They provide reference materials and search tools to users through intricate database systems and a trained staff.