Legal Definitions - Trademark Office

A Trademark Office is an agency that examines and registers trademarks. In the United States, the Trademark Office is also known as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). It is a department of the Commerce agency that provides services related to patents and trademarks to the public.

• When a company wants to register a trademark for their product or service, they must submit an application to the Trademark Office.
• The Trademark Office examines the application to ensure that the trademark is unique and does not infringe on any existing trademarks.
• If the application is approved, the Trademark Office will register the trademark and the company can use the registered trademark symbol (®) to protect their brand.

These examples illustrate how the Trademark Office is responsible for examining and registering trademarks to protect the intellectual property of companies and individuals.