Patent and trademark search checklist, done for your idea
Before you print packaging or file an application, you want to know if the name is taken or if someone already patented your idea. This prompt gives your todo.is agent a step-by-step search checklist: official trademark and patent databases, similar-sounding names, prior art and real-world use online, with every result linked.
The prompt
- Run a preliminary patent and trademark search for me and follow a clear checklist. Brand name: [BRAND NAME]. Product or service: [PRODUCT OR SERVICE]. Countries: [COUNTRIES]. The idea or invention, if any: [INVENTION SUMMARY]. For the trademark: search the official trademark databases for these countries and international registers, check exact matches, similar spellings and sound-alikes in the relevant classes, and check domain names, app stores and social handles. For the patent: search public patent databases with keywords and the likely classification codes, and list the 10 closest documents with links and why they're close. Give a risk rating for each part, a checklist of what I checked, and questions to bring to an IP attorney. Word report.
What to change
- [BRAND NAME]: The name you want to use, e.g. "Lumora".
- [PRODUCT OR SERVICE]: What it's for, e.g. "rechargeable bike lights" or "a language learning app".
- [COUNTRIES]: Where you'll sell, e.g. "US and EU".
- [INVENTION SUMMARY]: A few lines on how it works and what's new, or write "trademark only".
Example result
- Preliminary search: "Lumora" rechargeable bike lights (US and EU)
- This is a first search to spot problems early. It is not a legal opinion or a full clearance search.
- Trademark checklist
- • [x] Exact match in the US trademark register: none found in lighting classes
- • [x] Exact match in the EU register and the international brand database: one live mark "LUMORA" for cosmetics (class 3). Different goods, lower risk
- • [x] Similar spellings and sound-alikes: "LUMERA" registered for LED lamps (class 11) in the EU. Closest risk
- • [x] Relevant classes checked: 9 (electronics), 11 (lighting), 12 (bike accessories)
- • [x] Domains: lumora.com taken (parked page); lumora-lights options free
- • [x] App stores and social handles: a meditation app called Lumora exists
- • [x] General web use: no bike product found under the name
- Trademark risk: medium. The LUMERA mark is in a related class and sounds close. Ask an attorney about likelihood of confusion.
- Patent checklist
- • [x] Keyword searches: "rechargeable bicycle light" + "magnetic mount" + "brake sensor"
- • [x] Classification codes searched for vehicle lighting on cycles
- • [x] Public patent databases searched, including expired patents
- • [x] 8 close documents found and listed with links
- Closest documents (summaries):
- 1. A rear bike light that brightens when it senses braking: close to your brake feature
- 2. A magnetic quick-release light mount: overlaps your mount design
- 3. A light with a USB-C charge port in the mount: older, may be expired
- Patent risk: unclear. Your combination may still be new, but features 1 and 2 are known. Only a patent attorney can judge freedom to operate.
- Questions for your IP attorney
- • Is LUMERA in class 11 likely to block my application?
- • Should I file in the EU, the US or both first?
- • Does my brake-sensing feature differ enough from document 1?
- • Should I file a provisional patent application before showing the product publicly?
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and fill in your brand name, product, countries and a short summary of the invention.
- Send it in todo.is. Attach sketches or a spec sheet if you have them.
- Your agent works through the checklist on public databases and returns a Word report with links and risk ratings.
- Take the report and the questions to an IP attorney before you file or launch.
Tips for a better result
- Search sound-alikes and similar spellings, not just exact matches. Most conflicts come from close names.
- Check the classes for what you actually sell, plus related ones like accessories.
- Don't show an invention publicly before talking to a patent attorney. Public disclosure can affect patent rights.
- Re-run the trademark search right before you file. New applications appear every day.
patent and trademark search checklist: FAQ
- How do I check if a trademark is taken? Search the official trademark register for each country you'll sell in, plus international registers, for exact and similar names in your goods and services classes. Also check how the name is used online.
- Can I do a patent search myself? Yes, a preliminary one, using free public patent databases with keywords and classification codes. A professional search and legal opinion are still wise before you invest a lot.
- Is this legal advice? No. It's a preliminary search report. Have an IP attorney review it for your country before filing or launching.
- What is a trademark class? Trademarks are registered for specific groups of goods or services, called classes. The same name can sometimes coexist in very different classes.
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